Effect of vitamin A supplementation on haemoglobin and vitamin A levels during pregnancy.

Abstract

About 450 pregnant women from a low-income group were recruited to study the effect of vitamin A supplementation on plasma vitamin A levels in the mother and cord and on the birth weights of the neonates. Results showed that supplementation with 1800 micrograms vitamin A/d for more than 12 weeks prevented the decline in plasma vitamin A that otherwise occurs during the last few weeks of pregnancy. This improvement in maternal values for vitamin A at a critical time of development favourably affected availability to the fetus, as reflected by the marked elevation in cord levels. Supplementation for a period of 12 weeks was found to be sufficient, since subsequent discontinuation did not alter the beneficial response. Apart from increasing maternal and cord vitamin A levels, vitamin A supplementation along with iron prevented, in this study, the significant decline in haemoglobin occurring at 26-28 weeks of gestation. The birth weights were not altered by vitamin A supplementation.

• Authors: M Panth, V Shatrugna, P Yasodhara, B Sivakumar
• Journal: The British journal of nutrition (Br J Nutr) Vol. 64 Issue 2 Pg. 351-8 (Sep 1990) ISSN: 0007-1145 [Print] England
• PMID: 2223740 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Hemoglobins
• Vitamin A
• Carotenoids

Topics

• Birth Weight (drug effects)
• Carotenoids (blood)
• Female
• Fetal Blood (chemistry)
• Hemoglobins (analysis)
• Humans
• Infant, Newborn
• Maternal-Fetal Exchange
• Pregnancy (blood)
• Time Factors
• Vitamin A (administration & dosage, blood)