Tan, Pei Yee and Loganathan, Radhika and Teng, Kim-Tiu and Mohd Johari, Syahirah Nadiah and Lee, Soo Ching and Selvaduray, Kanga Rani and Ngui, Romano and Lim, Yvonne Ai-Lian (2024) Supplementation of red palm olein-enriched biscuits improves levels of provitamin A carotenes, iron, and erythropoiesis in vitamin A-deficient primary schoolchildren: a double-blinded randomised controlled trial. European Journal of Nutrition, 63 (3). pp. 905-918. ISSN 1436-6207, DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-023-03314-6.
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
Purpose Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) remains a significant contributor to childhood morbidity and mortality in developing countries; therefore, the implementation of sustainable and cost-effective approaches to control VAD is of utmost pertinence. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of red palm olein (RPO)-enriched biscuit supplementation in improving vitamin A, haematological, iron, and inflammatory status among vitamin A-deficient schoolchildren.Methods We conducted a double-blinded, randomised controlled trial involving 651 rural primary schoolchildren (8-12 years) with VAD in Malaysia. The schoolchildren were randomised to receive either RPO-enriched biscuits (experimental group, n = 334) or palm olein-enriched biscuits (control group, n = 317) for 6-month duration.Results Significant improvements in retinol and retinol-binding protein 4 levels were observed in both groups after supplementation (P < 0.001). The improvement in retinol levels were similar across groups among subjects with confirmed VAD (P = 0.40). Among those with marginal VAD, greater improvement in retinol levels was recorded in the control group (P < 0.001) but lacked clinical significance. The levels of alpha- and beta-carotenes, haematological parameters (haemoglobin, packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin) and iron enhanced more significantly in the experimental group (P < 0.05). The significant reduction in the prevalence of microcytic anaemia (- 21.8%) and high inflammation (- 8.1%) was only observed in the experimental group.Conclusion The supplementation of RPO-enriched biscuits enhanced levels of provitamin A carotenes, iron, and erythropoiesis, and exhibited anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, the incorporation of RPO into National Nutritional Intervention Programs may be a potential measure to improve the health status of vitamin A-deficient children, among various other interventions.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Funders: | Malaysian Palm Oil Board, Ministry of Education (MOE), Ministry of Health (MOH), Department of Orang Asli Development, Universiti Malaya, Noraini's Cookies Worldwide Sdn |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Red palm olein; Vitamin A deficiency; Carotene; Iron; Erythropoiesis; Inflammation |
| Subjects: | R Medicine > R Medicine (General) S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General) |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Medicine > Parasitology Deparment |
| Depositing User: | Ms. Juhaida Abd Rahim |
| Date Deposited: | 12 Nov 2024 01:33 |
| Last Modified: | 12 Nov 2024 01:33 |
| URI: | http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/45766 |
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