Abstract |
Vitamin A deficiency continues to be an international public health problem with several important health consequences including blindness and overall increased rates of morbidity and mortality. To address this widespread issue, a series of strategies have been put into place from dietary diversification to supplementation and fortification programs. Retinyl palmitate has been used successfully for decades as a supplement as well as a way to fortify numerous foods, including vegetable oil, rice, monosodium glutamate, cereal flours and sugar. Recently, there has been rising interest in using a natural source of carotenoids, β- carotene from red palm oil (RPO), for fortification. Although RPO interventions have also been shown to effectively prevent Vitamin A deficiency, there are numerous challenges in using beta-carotene from RPO as a fortification technique. β- Carotene can induce significant changes in appearance and taste of the fortified product. Moreover, costs of fortifying with beta-carotene are higher than with retinyl palmitate. Therefore, RPO should only be used as a source of Vitamin A if it is produced and used in its crude form and regularly consumed without frying. Furthermore, refined RPO should be fortified with retinyl palmitate, not β- carotene, to ensure that there is adequate Vitamin A content.
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Authors | Ellie Souganidis, Arnaud Laillou, Magali Leyvraz, Regina Moench-Pfanner |
Journal | Nutrients
(Nutrients)
Vol. 5
Issue 8
Pg. 3257-71
(Aug 15 2013)
ISSN: 2072-6643 [Electronic] Switzerland |
PMID | 23955382
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
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Chemical References |
- Diterpenes
- Plant Oils
- Retinyl Esters
- beta Carotene
- Vitamin A
- retinol palmitate
- Palm Oil
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Topics |
- Diet
- Dietary Supplements
- Diterpenes
- Edible Grain
(chemistry)
- Feasibility Studies
- Food, Fortified
- Humans
- Palm Oil
- Plant Oils
(administration & dosage, chemistry)
- Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
- Retinyl Esters
- Vitamin A
(administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives, chemistry)
- Vitamin A Deficiency
(prevention & control)
- beta Carotene
(administration & dosage)
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