Studies on vitamin a absorption in children
Reddy, V.; Sivakumar, B.
Indian Pediatrics 9(6): 307-310
1972
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-6061 PMID: 4649855 Document Number: 56141
A physiological dose of vitamin A, 3000 IU labelled with 4 mu Ci of 3H, was almost completely absorbed by 10 normal children and there was no significant difference in absorption of retinyl acetate (99%) and retinyl palmitate (96%). Of a massive dose, 200 000 IU retinyl palmitate, a mean of 66.8% was absorbed and 47% retained. Assuming 50% availability, a dose of 200 000 IU once in 6 months should suffice to prevent blindness due to vitamin A deficiency. In 5 children with kwashiorkor but no diarrhoea the absorption of a dose of 3000 IU was 90%, not different from normal. Absorption was reduced to 74.3% in 8 children with respiratory infections and 70.2% in 3 with diarrhoea but no steatorrhoea. Infections may contribute to the deficiency of vitamin A widespread in children of poor communities.