Vitamin A Equivalence of Plant Carotenoids in Children
Condition: Vitamin A Deficiency
MeSH terms: Night Blindness; Vitamin A Deficiency
Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase 2

Summary: 
      Our objectives will be to test the following hypotheses and to make the following
      determinations: (1) The absorption and bio-conversion of provitamin A carotenes taken by
      children are different between spinach, Golden Rice, and ß-C in oil capsules. (2) The
      absorption of provitamin A carotenes and their bioconversion to vitamin A are different in
      children with or without adequate vitamin A nutrition. (3) To define the vitamin A
      equivalence(s) of dietary spinach, Golden Rice, and a ß-C in oil dose by using an isotope
      reference method in children with or without adequate vitamin A nutrition and to compare
      those values with values derived from model based compartmental analysis. (4) To determine
      the number and time of blood samples needed for future studies in various field settings on
      the retinol equivalence of a large number of plant sources.
    

Detailed description: 
      This project is to determine the vitamin A value (equivalence) of dietary provitamin A
      carotenes from spinach, Golden Rice, and pure ß-carotene (ß-C) in oil. These experiments will
      be conducted in children (ages 6-8) with/without adequate (marginal deficiency) vitamin A
      nutrition. As plant provitamin A carotenoids are a major and safe vitamin A source for a vast
      population in the world, it is essential to determine the efficiency of provitamin A
      carotenoid (mainly ß-C) conversion to vitamin A. By introducing ß-C into rice endosperm,
      Golden Rice may directly benefit consumers by providing vitamin A nutrition. Our
      investigation uses hydroponically grown, deca-deuterium labeled spinach and Golden Rice,
      synthetic ß-C-d10 and a vitamin A isotope reference, C13 labeled retinyl acetate (13C10-RAc),
      to evaluate the bioavailability and the bioconversion of plant provitamin A carotenes to
      retinol as compared with ß-C in oil capsules in vivo.

      Seventy-two children each will take two meals, breakfast containing 13C10-RAc dose (0.5mg in
      0.2g oil capsule) and lunch containing spinach containing 1 mg ß-C (along with white rice),
      or Golden Rice containing 0.5mg ß-C (along with light colored vegetables), or ß-C oil
      capsules containing 0.5 mg ß-C in 0.2g oil (along with white rice and light colored
      vegetables) on the first day of the study. Blood samples will be collected at 1 3, 7, 14, and
      21 days after the study doses.

      The enrichment of labeled ß-C and labeled retinol in human circulation will be determined
      using advanced liquid chromatography / mass spectrometry and gas chromatography / mass
      spectrometry. Through the applications of these novel technologies, we will be able to
      determine the relative biological activities of endogenous carotenoids; that is, the vitamin
      A value of spinach, Golden Rice, and ß-C in oil capsules for children with/without vitamin A
      malnutrition.

      This study will be of importance in planning vitamin A deficiency prevention strategies and
      also will provide useful information regarding the potential efficacy of a bioengineered crop
      to provide vitamin A nutrition.
    

Intervention name(s): dietary carotenoids; spinach, rice, and synthetic beta-carotene
Intervention type(s): Dietary Supplement; Dietary Supplement
Intervention description(s): spinach containing 1 - 2 mg beta-carotene rice containing 0.5 mg beta-carotene synthetic beta-carotene 0.5 mg oil capsule; spinach containing 1 - 2 mg beta-carotene rice containing 0.5 mg beta-carotene synthetic beta-carotene, 0.5 mg oil dose
Other intervention name(s): dietary carotenoids
Intervention MeSH terms: Beta Carotene; Carotenoids
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Factorial Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Basic Science
Keywords: dietary beta-carotene; vitamin A status; intrinsically labeled plant foods