School
School of Public Health
Document Type
Dissertation
Department (new version)
Public Health
Date of Award
2001
Degree Name by School
Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) School of Public Health
Abstract
Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a public health problem in the world. Carotene-rich foods may prevent VAD. We tested the effectiveness of mangoes on vitamin A status in a region with subclinical VAD. We randomized 176 rural Gambian children aged 2–7 y to receive 1 of 4 treatments: 75 g dried mango (rehydrated before eating) plus 5 g fat 5 d/wk for 4 mo (MF), ( n = 44); 75 g dried mango without fat 5 d/wk for 4 mo (M), ( n = 45); one 200,000 IU vitamin A capsule at baseline (A), ( n = 44); or one placebo capsule at baseline (P), ( n = 43). Blood was drawn at baseline and at 2 and 4 months. Data were collected also on supplement consumption, dietary, morbidity anthropometry, and socioeconomic status. The dietary sources of vitamin A, carotenoids, and fat intakes of rural Gambian preschoolers are unknown. Mean preformed daily vitamin A, beta-carotene and fat intakes from the home diet and the mango supplement were 118.4 ± 52.0 RE, 35.7 ± 10.0 RE, and 2.9 ± 0.5 g, respectively. Preformed vitamin A sources contributed the most to total vitamin A intake. Analysis of 2-mo retinol and beta-carotene serum levels found no overall group differences. However, 4-mo retinol levels of MF and A groups were statistically different than P (0.69 μmol/L and 0.69 μmol/L vs. 0.64μmol/L). The 4-mo retinol change in A was significantly greater than that of P (0.06 vs. 0.02; P = 0.0174); no other groups showed such a response. At 4 mo, mean beta-carotene levels in the MF (0.5 μmol/L) and M groups (0.52 μmol/L) were significantly higher than the P (0.18 μmol/L) and A (0.32) groups ( P = 0.04). Total vitamin A intake (154.1 ± 31.0 RE) did not meet the RDA for vitamin A (400 RE/day), and a low fat intake was not sufficient for vitamin A absorption. Vitamin A status was predicted by increased beta-carotene intake, group treatment, and inversely by C-reactive protein. Plasma beta-carotene was associated only with dietary intake of beta-carotene. This study indicated that food-based interventions might be successful if plasma beta-carotene levels are improved and subjects are free of infections.
ProQuest Publication Number
ProQuest ID
3025234
ISBN
978-0-493-36830-6
Recommended Citation
Drammeh, Bakary Seihou, "Comparison of the effectiveness of solar-dried mangoes and high-dose vitamin A supplements in improving the vitamin A status of Gambian children" (2001). All ETDs from UAB. 7214.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/7214
Comments
DrPH