Red Palm Oil in the Maternal Diet Improves the Vitamin A Status of Lactating Mothers and Their Infants

Abstract

Improvement of the vitamin A status of lactating mothers and their nursing infants following maternal palm oil consumption was comparable to that following supplementation with purified β-carotene. Mothers who consumed β-carotene as red palm oil had 2.1- and 2.5-fold increases in their serum and milk β-carotene concentrations, respectively, and 2.8- and 3.2-fold increases in their serum and milk α-carotene concentrations, respectively. Infant serum retinol concentrations were significantly increased following maternal supplementation with red palm oil or β-carotene. Maternal intake of red palm oil or β-carotene supplements did not alter infant serum carotenoids, maternal serum retinol, or milk retinol. Because the local diet includes foods prepared with oil, the possibility that red palm oil could provide a significant source of provitamin A carotenoids for Honduran women and children should be further investigated.