Vitamin A nutritional status in high- and low-income postpartum women and its effect on colostrum and the requirements of the term newborn

Abstract

© 2017 Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria. Objective: To evaluate the vitamin A status in serum and colostrum of postpartum women with different socioeconomic status, comparing the colostrum retinol supply with the vitamin A requirement of the newborn. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted with 424 postpartum women. Vitamin A maternal dietary intake was estimated using a food frequency questionnaire. Colostrum and serum retinol levels were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Serum retinol concentrations < 20. μg/dL were indicative of vitamin A deficiency (VAD). Vitamin A levels provided by colostrum < 400. μgRAE/day were considered as insufficient for term newborns. Results: The mean maternal vitamin A intake during pregnancy was 872.2. ±. 639.2. μgRAE/day in low-income women and 1169.2. ±. 695.2. μgRAE/day for high-income women (p