Short-term, Daily Supplementation with Vitamin A, But Not Beta-carotene, Increases Plasma and Breast Milk Retinol Concentration in Lactating Filipino Women

Abstract

Objective: To assess the usefulness of breast milk vitamin A (BMVA) for evaluating the impact of food-based vitamin A (VA) interventions. Methods: We assessed the effect of daily supplementation with 600 ug VA activity as either retinyl palmitate or β-carotene (BC) or 0 ug VA activity as corn oil (CO) on BMVA and BC concentrations in lactating women (n=83) who were randomly assigned to receive one of the three treatments, 6 d/wk for 3 wk. Treatments were administered as capsules (containing either 300 ug or 0 ug VA ), 2 times/d, with morning and noon meals consisting of low VA foods. Plasma and milk concentrations of VA and BC were measured before and after the intervention.   Results: Initial mean plasma retinol concentration was 1.29±0.41 umol/L, and the mean change in plasma retinol was greater in the VA group than in the BC and CO groups (0.13, 0.03, -0.04 umol/L, respectively, P<0.01). Initial mean BMVA was 28.0±14.6 nmol/g fat, and the mean change in BMVA was greater in the VA group than in the BC and CO groups (4.6, 0.5, -3.6 nmol/g fat, respectively, P<0.001). Initial plasma BC concentration was 0.33±0.22 umol/L, and the mean change in plasma BC was greater in the BC group than in the VA and CO groups (0.74, 0.02, 0.07 umol/L, respectively, P<0.0001).  Conclusions: Both BMVA and plasma retinol concentrations increased in response to supplementation with retinyl palmitate, but bioconversion of BC to VA is limited in this population.