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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #163895
Title: DEUTERATED-RETINOL-DILUTION APPROACH FOR LONGITUDINAL MONITORING OF HEALTH AND NUTRITIONAL INTERVENTIONS INVOLVING VITAMIN A

Author
item RIBAYA-MERCADO, JUDY - TUFTS-HNRCA
item SOLOMONS, NOEL - STDY SNSRY IMP,AGIN METAB

Submitted to: Sight and Life Newsletter
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2002
Publication Date: 2/1/2003
Citation: Ribaya-Mercado, J.D., Solomons, N.W. 2003. Deuterated-retinol-dilution approach for longitudinal monitoring of health and nutritional interventions involving vitamin a. Sight And Life Newsletter 2003;2:3-4.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: This article discusses the use of stable-isotope-dilution methodology for monitoring nutritional interventions aimed at improving the vitamin A status of vulnerable populations in developing nations. The standard approach for assessing vitamin A nutriture of populations has been to determine the circulating retinol concentrations. This measure, however, is subject to homeostatic control and does not readily change in response to nutritional interventions unless liver stores are almost totally depleted. The deuterated-retinol-dilution (DRD) approach is proving to be a reliable measure of total-body vitamin A stores and liver vitamin A concentrations. It involves an oral administration of a standard dose of deuterated retinyl acetate, taking a blood draw ~21 days later when the administered dose has equilibrated with the body's vitamin A pool, measuring the ratio of deuterated- to non-deuterated retinol in serum by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and using a mathematical formula for obtaining an estimate of total-body vitamin A stores. Liver vitamin A concentrations in children are estimated by assuming that liver weight is 3% of body weight, and that in well-nourished populations, >90% of total-body vitamin A is stored in liver; in marginally or poorly nourished populations, a greater percentage is found in peripheral tissues, and less is found in hepatic stores. We used the DRD approach to monitor the impact of the Nicaraguan national program of fortifying domestic sugar with vitamin A on the vitamin A status of Nicaraguan schoolchildren. We found a positive impact of the program, and saw a much greater improvement in total-body vitamin A and liver vitamin A concentration than in serum retinol concentration.