Retinyl palmitate supplementation by inhalation of an aerosol improves vitamin A status of preschool children in Gondar (Ethiopia)

Publisher： Cambridge University Press

E-ISSN： 1475-2662|82|3|179-182

ISSN： 0007-1145

Source： British Journal of Nutrition, Vol.82, Iss.3, 1999-09, pp. : 179-182

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Abstract

We report successful vitamin A supplementation by inhalation of retinyl palmitate in a placebo-controlled pilot study in twenty-five preschool children (2–5 years of age) in the rural district of Gondar, Ethiopia. Preschool children (n 161) were randomly selected from 220 households. Out of this cohort, twenty-five children were randomly assigned to each of two treatment groups: one receiving retinyl palmitate by inhalation of two puffs of an aerosol containing 1 mg (3000 IU) per delivery to give a total of 2 mg (6000 IU); and the other receiving an aerosol without retinyl palmitate. Both treatments were administered every 2 weeks for 3 months. Serum retinol and retinol-binding protein concentrations in the vitamin A-treated group were 0·68 (sd 0·31) μmol/l and 59·4 (sd 24·2) mg/l before and 1·43 (sd 0·46) μmol/l (P < 0·01) and 97·3 (sd 31·2) mg/l (P < 0·05) 3 months after supplementation with retinyl palmitate, suggesting that this novel method of delivery of retinyl palmitate by inhalation is effective in improving vitamin A status.