Impact of vitamin A supplementation through different dosages of red palm oil and retinol palmitate on preschool children

J Trop Pediatr. 2002 Feb;48(1):24-8. doi: 10.1093/tropej/48.1.24.

Abstract

Red palm oil (5 ml and 10 ml), ground nut oil fortified with 400 and 800 retinol equivalent retinol palmitate, and ground nut oil (5 and 10 ml), were administered to six groups of preschool children (four experimental and two control groups) in randomly assigned balwadis of Ramanathapuram District of Tamil Nadu for a period of 7 months, to monitor the difference in the efficacy of the mode of supplementation and the optimum dose for improving vitamin A status. Results show that red palm oil groups recorded more gain in retinol and beta-carotene levels compared to other dosage groups, and that administration of 10 ml did not offer any substantial improvement over the 5-ml daily dose.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / administration & dosage*
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Diterpenes
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Plant Oils / administration & dosage*
  • Retinyl Esters
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vitamin A / administration & dosage*
  • Vitamin A / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamin A / blood
  • Vitamin A Deficiency / prevention & control*
  • alpha-Tocopherol / blood
  • beta Carotene / blood

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Diterpenes
  • Plant Oils
  • Retinyl Esters
  • beta Carotene
  • Vitamin A
  • retinol palmitate
  • alpha-Tocopherol