Therefore , vitamin A supplementation alone may reduce the risk of anemia , by improving hemoglobin and ferritin levels in individuals with low serum retinol levels
ABSTRACT Anemia is a worldwide public health problem that can be related to many causes , including vitamin A deficiency .
The aim of this study was to assess and estimate the effect of vitamin A supplementation ( VAS ) on iron status biomarkers and anemia in humans .
Effects of vitamin A, vitamin A plus iron and multiple micronutrient-fortified seasoning powder on preschool children in a suburb of Chongqing, China.
Preschool children in developing countries are likely to have multiple , concurrent micronutrient deficiencies . This study was design ed to evaluate the effectiveness of different combinations of nutritional fortified diet to improve the blood levels of iron , vitamin A and other essential micronutrients in the preschool population of Banan District of Chongqing , China . From December 2005 to June 2006 , a total of 226 2 - 6 y old preschool children were recruited from three nurseries in the area , and they were r and omly assigned to three different fortified diet groups for 6 mo . Group I was fortified with vitamin A ; groups II and III were fortified with vitamin A plus iron and vitamin A plus iron , thiamine , riboflavin , folic acid , niacinamide , zinc and calcium , respectively . Subjects ' weight and height were measured for assessing the children 's growth and development . Blood sample s were taken at the beginning and the end of the 6-mo study period for measuring serum levels of micronutrients . Group III with the multiple micronutrient fortified diet was the most effective to improve the serum level of retinol from [ media ( P25 , P75 ) : 1.06 ( 0.89 , 1.32 ) ] micromol/L to 1.29 ( 1.04 , 1.39 ) micromol/L ( p<0.05 ) and retinol binding protein from 17.0 ( 12.6 , 25.6 ) mg/L to 31.6 ( 24.4 , 44.0 ) mg/L ( p<0.05 ) and to mobilize the stored iron in the liver ( p<0.05 ) . In addition , the three groups ' hemoglobin levels were elevated from 117.0 ( 109.0 , 124.1 ) g/L , 114.0 ( 109.2 , 119.7 ) g/L and 115.0 ( 109.5 , 122.7 ) g/L to 125.7 ( 119.2 , 133.1 ) g/L , 126.5 ( 122.2 , 135.9 ) g/L and 125.1 ( 119.8 , 131.6 ) g/L over the 6 mo of intervention period , but there were no difference among the three groups ( p>0.05 ) . Nevertheless , unexpected results were obtained when comparing the effects on growth status among the different supplement groups . Our study has demonstrated that a multiple micronutrient fortified diet for 6 mo is more effective to improve the levels of hemoglobin , serum retinol , and RBP as well as to facilitate the mobilization of iron storage in preschool children
Therefore , vitamin A supplementation alone may reduce the risk of anemia , by improving hemoglobin and ferritin levels in individuals with low serum retinol levels
ABSTRACT Anemia is a worldwide public health problem that can be related to many causes , including vitamin A deficiency .
The aim of this study was to assess and estimate the effect of vitamin A supplementation ( VAS ) on iron status biomarkers and anemia in humans .