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Vitamin A and carotenoid status in rural China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Guangya Wang ,
Thierry A. Brun ,
Catherine A. Geissler ,
Banoo Parpia ,
Martin Root ,
Ming Li ,
T. Colin Campbell  and
Junshi Chen
Guangya Wang
Affiliation:
Institute of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, Beijing, China
Thierry A. Brun
Affiliation:
The World Bank, Washington DC, USA
Catherine A. Geissler
Affiliation:
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Division of Health Sciences, Kings College, University of London, W8 7AH
Banoo Parpia
Affiliation:
Division of Nutritiona1 Sciences, Savage Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Martin Root
Affiliation:
Division of Nutritiona1 Sciences, Savage Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Ming Li
Affiliation:
Division of Nutritiona1 Sciences, Savage Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
T. Colin Campbell
Affiliation:
Division of Nutritiona1 Sciences, Savage Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Junshi Chen
Affiliation:
Institute of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, Beijing, China
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Abstract

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Vitamin A status of 260 groups of twenty-five males or twenty-five females, aged 35–64 years, surveyed in twenty-four provinces of the People's Republic of China, was assessed by measuring plasma retinol, retinol-binding protein and β-carotene concentrations. Direct measurements of food intake over a 3 d period and questionnaire data on the frequency of consumption of vegetables, fruit, animal products and other dietary items were also used. Vitamin A status appeared to be low only in specific counties but in general was satisfactory or only marginally deficient. Plasma harotene levels were strikingly low in comparison with Western levels despite generous vegetable consumption suggwg that intake of vitamin A precursors may have been adequate but not abundant enough to maintain high circulating plasma levels of β-carotene. Plasma β-carotene, for both males and females, was significantly correlated with the frequency of consumption of green vegetables. Plasma retinol, for males, was highly correlated with meat, fish, oil and alcohol consumption expresPed both in quantity or frequency of consumption. Higher levels of plasma retinol, together with lower levels of plasma β-carotene in males compared with females, suggest that men consume more animal products or may have higher retinol requirements and therefore a higher rate of conversion of β-carotene to retinol.

Keywords

Vitamin ARetinolβ-CaroteneRetinol-binding proteinVegetable consumption
Type
Human and Clinical Nutrition
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 76 , Issue 6 , December 1996 , pp. 809 - 820
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1997

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