Plasma retinol concentration according to pubertal maturation in school children and adolescents of Medellín, Colombia

Abstract

Aim: To describe plasma retinol values according to age, gender and pubertal maturation. Type of study: Comparative, transverse and descriptive. Place: Medellín, Colombia. Subjects and methods: Plasma retinol values were determined in 588 boys and 531 girls aged between 6 and 18 y. For this, we used spectrophotometry by UV oxidation of retinol, results below 0.87 mmol/l were confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: Mean retinol plasma concentrations were slightly higher in girls under 10 y. However, above this age, values are generally higher in boys. Plasma retinol concentrations increased with pubertal maturation in both boys and girls in a statistically significant manner. The highest values were observed in girls with mammary development grades 3 and 4 (Po0.05) and in boys with external genitalia development grades 1 and 2 (Po0.05). Vitamin A deficiency based on plasma retinol concentration (o0.70 mmol/l), was observed in 3.6% of all individuals regardless of gender. Conclusions: Plasma retinol concentration is correlated to pubertal maturation in both boys and girls. Vitamin A deficiency in school children and adolescents of Medellín is not a major health problem.

Vitamin and cofactor biosynthesis pathways in Plasmodium and other apicomplexan parasites

“…There is evidence that β-carotene and vitamin A have protective effects against malaria 50, 51. Malaria infection seems to be accompanied by decreases of vitamin A concentrations in the serum from ≥ 120 mmol/L to ≤ 70 μmol/L 52, 53, and, in rodent models, there appears to be an inverse correlation between parasitemia and vitamin A concentrations in the host. Providing vitamin A supplements partially protected against malaria infection, particularly in immunologically naïve patients 50.…”

Vitamin A status in Cuban children aged 6–11 years

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Reducing dietary intake of added sugars could affect the nutritional adequacy of vitamin A in adolescents: the Costa Rica case

“…Vit-A intake does not correlate with serum retinol levels because 1) serum retinol levels are controlled homeostatically within a narrow range and do not change unless liver reserves are very low or high [ 35 ], 2) serum retinol levels increase during pubertal maturation in both boys and girls [ 36 ], and 3) due to oral contraceptive use in adolescent girls [ 37 ]. It has been pointed out that the effect of these factors on retinol levels does not necessarily reflect a good vit-A status, but merely that the body's retinol stores have been redistributed from the liver into circulation [ 37 ].…”