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Determining the efficacy of vitamin A doses given to infants in developing countries using a piglet model
Author(s) -
Surles Rebecca L,
Mills Jordan P,
Tanumihardjo Sherry A
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.a998
Subject(s) - medicine , vitamin , lactation , physiology , retinol , gestation , zoology , pregnancy , biology , genetics
A suggested method to improve vitamin A (VA) status of infants in developing countries is to give VA supplements at immunization contacts. Currently, 25,000 IU (as retinyl ester) is used, but 50,000 IU is under consideration. Moreover, doses of 100,000 IU have been given to children at 1 y of age. The efficacy of these doses has not been adequately determined. This study determined the changes in liver VA reserves after such doses in piglets. Pigs are a good choice for studying VA because of similar gastrointestinal anatomy, morphology, and physiology. Furthermore, piglets and infants have similar body weights and VA requirements. Sows (n = 7) were placed on a VA‐depleted diet during gestation and lactation. All piglets were allowed to nurse for 12 d. Twenty‐eight male piglets were weaned to a VA‐depleted diet for 1 wk. Baseline VA status was determined by the modified relative dose response (MRDR) test by giving 1.5 mg 3, 4‐didehydroretinyl acetate (DRA) orally and drawing a blood sample 4 h later via jugular puncture. Thereafter, the piglets were divided into four VA‐supplement groups: 0; 25,000; 50,000; and 100,000 IU as retinyl ester. The supplements were administered orally in corn oil. The piglets continued on the VA‐depleted diet for 10 d. In order to track the changes in serum retinol after these large doses, additional blood samples (5 mL) were drawn on d 1, 2, 4 and 7. Repeat MRDR tests were performed and the piglets killed at 4 h after dosing with DRA on d 10. Blood and livers were collected for analysis. Supported by NIH‐NIDDK61973, USDA‐NRI 2003‐35200‐13754, and a UW‐Madison College of Agriculture and Life Sciences scholarship to J.P. Mills.