Biofortified orange maize is as efficacious as a vitamin A supplement in Zambian children even in the presence of high liver reserves of vitamin A: a community-based, randomized placebo-controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Biofortification is a strategy to relieve vitamin A (VA) deficiency. Biofortified maize contains enhanced provitamin A concentrations and has been bioefficacious in animal and small human studies.

Objective

The study sought to determine changes in total body reserves (TBRs) of vitamin A with consumption of biofortified maize.

Design

A randomized, placebo-controlled biofortified maize efficacy trial was conducted in 140 rural Zambian children. The paired (13)C-retinol isotope dilution test, a sensitive biomarker for VA status, was used to measure TBRs before and after a 90-d intervention. Treatments were white maize with placebo oil (VA-), orange maize with placebo (orange), and white maize with VA in oil [400 μg retinol activity equivalents (RAEs) in 214 μL

SUBMITTER: Gannon B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4232019 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature