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Objectives To analyse intake of vitamin A (VA) and retinol concentrations in maternal blood, breast milk (BM), and the umbilical cord (UC) of newborns, and to determine the associations among these variables. Methods We performed a cross-sectional, epidemiological study of 180 mother–newborn dyads. Maternal and UC blood samples and BM were collected. VA intake by the mother over 30 days was assessed using a questionnaire. Results Mean retinol concentrations in maternal serum, the UC, and BM were 0.65 ± 0.27, 0.36 ± 0.18, and 2.95 ± 2.70 µmol/L, respectively. Retinol concentrations Conclusions High proportions of insufficient retinol concentrations were observed in the UC, maternal blood, and BM. A high percentage of pregnant women had inadequate VA intake. Mothers with insufficient serum retinol concentrations had newborns with lower retinol concentrations in the UC. Higher retinol concentrations were observed in maternal blood and the UC with a higher VA intake.

Scope Micronutrients are in small amounts in foods, act in concert, and require variable amounts of time to see changes in health and risk for disease. These first principles are incorporated into an intervention study designed to develop new experimental strategies for setting target recommendations for food bioactives for populations and individuals. Methods and results A 6-week multivitamin/mineral intervention is conducted in 9-13 year olds. Participants (136) are (i) their own control (n-of-1); (ii) monitored for compliance; (iii) measured for 36 circulating vitamin forms, 30 clinical, anthropometric, and food intake parameters at baseline, post intervention, and following a 6-week washout; and (iv) had their ancestry accounted for as modifier of vitamin baseline or response. The same intervention is repeated the following year (135 participants). Most vitamins respond positively and many clinical parameters change in directions consistent with improved metabolic health to the intervention. Baseline levels of any metabolite predict its own response to the intervention. Elastic net penalized regression models are identified, and significantly predict response to intervention on the basis of multiple vitamin/clinical baseline measures. Conclusions The study design, computational methods, and results are a step toward developing recommendations for optimizing vitamin levels and health parameters for individuals.

Introdução: A deficiência de vitamina A (DVA) constitui grave problema de saúde pública em muitas regiões do mundo, atingindo principalmente o grupo matemo-infantil e aumentando a morbimortalidade na infância. A suplementação materna pode ser uma estratégia eficaz no combate ao problema. Objetivos: Verificar o impacto da suplementação materna com vitamina A sobre a concentração de retinol do leite matemo e do soro no binômio mãe-filho, além de estimar a prevalência da DVA neste grupo, verificar a associação entre mãe e filho e a influência de alguns fatores envolvidos na gênese da DVA. Casuística e métodos: 33 puérperas receberam cápsulas com 200.000 UI de vitamina A entre o 20º e o 30º dias pós-parto (grupo suplementado) e 33 receberam cápsulas idênticas com óleo de soja (grupo placebo). Amostras de sangue e leite matemos foram colhidas antes (T0) e após (T1) a intervenção (três meses pós-parto). Sangue dos lactentes foi colhido aos três meses. O retinol foi analisado pelo método de HPLC. Concentrações inferiores a 0,70 \'mü\'mol/l no soro e 1,05 \'mü\'mol/l no leite foram indicativas de DVA. Peso e altura foram aferidos e dados sociodemográficos e clínicos foram obtidos através de entrevista. Resultados: Concluíram a pesquisa 61 pares mãe-filho. Nas mães suplementadas, a concentração sérica de retinol aumentou de 1,05 \'+ OU -\' 0,31 \'mü\'mol/l no T0 para 1,17\'+ OU -\' 0,34 \'mü\'mol/l no T1 (p=0,026), mostrando diferença estatisticamente significante em relação ao grupo placebo, cuja média foi 1,02 \'+ OU -\' 0,28 \'mü\'mol/l (p=0,032). No leite materno, houve redução significativa da concentração de retinol somente no grupo que não recebeu a vitamina (1,98 \'+ OU -\' 0,78 \'mü\'mol/l no T0 e 1,34 \'+ OU -\' 0,89 \'mü\'mol/l no T1, p=0,003). Nos lactentes, não houve diferença estatística nas médias de retinol entre os grupos (0,64\'+ OU -\' 0,30 \'mü\'mol/l e 0,69 \'+ OU -\' 0,26 \'mü\'mol/l). Quanto à DVA materna sérica, encontrou-se 6,7% (TO) e 16,7% (T1) no grupo placebo e 6,5% (TO) e 3,2% (T1) no suplementado. DVA no leite materno foi observada em 7,4% (T0) e 55,6% (T1) das amostras do grupo placebo e 22,6% (T0) e 16,1% (T1) do suplementado. A DVA esteve presente em 66% dos lactentes (69% no grupo placebo e 63,3% no suplementado). Apenas uma puérpera apresentou subnutrição e um lactente apresentou risco nutricional. DVA materna associou-se à DVA no leite (p=0,015) e houve correlação positiva significante entre retinol sérico materno e do leite (r = 0,28; p=0,032). Não houve influência das variáveis paridade, escolaridade, renda, uso de polivitamínico, febre e diarréia no retinol de puérperas e lactentes. O retinol sérico materno não se alterou com o IMC, mas a idade das puérperas se correlacionou positivamente com o retinol (r = 0,29; p=0,024). Conclusões: A suplementação materna com 200.000 UI de vitamina A mostrou impacto positivo na concentração de retinol da mãe e do leite materno, porém não atingindo o lactente. Apesar de a população estudada ter sido considerada eutrófica em praticamente sua totalidade, elevada prevalência de DVA foi encontrada, principalmente nos lactentes de três meses de idade, questionando-se o ponto de corte empregado para esta faixa etária Background: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a severe public health problem in many regions of the world, affecting mainly the mother-infant group and increasing the morbimortality in childhood. The maternal supplementation can be an effective strategy to combat this problem. Objectives: To evaluate the impact of maternal vitamin A supplementation on serum and breast milk retinol concentrations; to estimate the VAD prevalence; to assess the association between mother and infant and the influence of some factors involved in the genesis of VAD. Subjects and Methods: 33 lactating women received capsules with 200.000 lU of vitamin A between the 20th day and the 30th day after delivery (supplemented group) and 33 lactating women received identical capsules with soybean oil (placebo group). Maternal blood and milk samples were collected before (T0) and after (T1) the intervention (three months after delivery). Infants\' blood was collected at three months old. Retinol was determined by HPLC method. Levels lower than 0.70 \'mü\'mol/l in serum and 1.05 \'mü\'mol/l in milk indicated V AD. Weight and height measurements were collected and socio-demographic and clinical data were obtained through interview. Results: 61 mother-infant pairs concluded the study. In supplemented mothers, the serum retinol concentration increased from 1.05 \'+ OU -\' 0.31 \'mü\'mol/l at T0 to 1.17 \'+ OU -\' 0.34 \'mü\'mol/1 at T1 (p=0.026), showing statistically significant difference in relation to placebo group, whose mean was 1.02 \'+ OU -\' 0.28 \'\"mü\'mol/l (p=0.032). In breast milk, there was significant reduction of retinol concentration only in the group that did not received the vitamin (1.98 \'+ OU -\' 0.78 \'mü\'mol/l at T0 and 1.34 \'+ OU -\' 0.89 \'mü\'mol/l at T1, p=0.003). In infants, there was not statistically difference in retinol means between groups (0.64 \'+ OU -\' 0.30 \'mü\'mol/l and 0.69 \'+ OU -\' 0.26 \'mü\'mol/l). Regarding serum maternal VAD, it was found 6.7% (T0) and 16.7% (T1) in placebo group and 6.5% (T0) and 3.2% (T1) in supplemented group. Breast milk VAD was found in 7.4% (T0) and 55.6% (T1) of the placebo and 22.6% (T0) and 16.1% (T1) of the supplemented group samples. The VAD was present in 66% of infants (69% in the placebo and 63.3% in the supplemented group). Only one lactating mother had malnutrition and one infant presented nutritional risk. Maternal VAD was associated to breast milk VAD (p=0.015) and maternal serum retinol was positively correlated to breast milk retinol (r = 0.28; P = 0.032). There was no influence of variables parity, education, income, use of multivitamin, fever and diarrhea on both infants and mothers retinol. The maternal serum retinol did not change with BMI, but the age of the lactating women was positively correlated to retinol (r = 0.29; P = 0.024). Conclusions: The maternal supplementation with 200.000 lU of vitamin A showed positive impact on maternal serum and milk retinol concentration, but it did not reach the infant. Although the study population was considered healthy in almost its entirety, high prevalence of VAD was found, mainly in infants from three months old, leading us to question the cut-off point used for this age group