Who has a high vitamin A intake from plant foods, but a low serum retinol concentration? Data from women in Indonesia

Objective: To examine whether the relationship between vitamin A intake, fr om plant and animal foods, and vitamin A status is the same throughout a po pulation. Design: Analysis of cross-sectional data on vitamin A intake, vitamin A sta tus, physiological condition and socio-economic status. Setting: Central Java, Indonesia. Subjects: Women with a child less than or equal to 24 months old (n = 600). Results: Mean serum retinol concentration of women with animal vitamin A in take below or above the median (50 RE/d) was 1.28 and 1.38 mu mol/L, respec tively (P < 0.05). For those with intake above the median the distribution curve for serum retinol concentration was shifted towards the right, to hig her concentrations. Serum retinol concentration of women with plant vitamin A intake below or above the median (279 RE/d) was 1.30 and 1.36 mu mol/L, respectively (P < 0.05). Again, the distribution curve for serum retinol wa s shifted towards higher concentrations for n omen with an intake above the median, except for the subgroup of 25% with the lowest serum retinol conce ntration ( < 1.10 mu mol/L). These women did not seem to benefit from their relatively high vegetable intake. They also had the lowest socio-economic status. Conclusions: The subgroup that Has most in need of vitamin A could not obta in it from plant foods. It may well be that, because of their lower socio-e conomic status, their hygiene conditions were worse and therefore host-rela ted factors that affect carotene bioavailability, such as parasitic infesta tion, were less favourable in this group. They depended on supplements and, if affordable, on animal foods, fruits and/or fortified products.