A comparison of retinyl palmitate and red palm oil β-carotene as strategies to address Vitamin A deficiency

Nutrients. 2013 Aug 15;5(8):3257-71. doi: 10.3390/nu5083257.

Abstract

Vitamin A deficiency continues to be an international public health problem with several important health consequences including blindness and overall increased rates of morbidity and mortality. To address this widespread issue, a series of strategies have been put into place from dietary diversification to supplementation and fortification programs. Retinyl palmitate has been used successfully for decades as a supplement as well as a way to fortify numerous foods, including vegetable oil, rice, monosodium glutamate, cereal flours and sugar. Recently, there has been rising interest in using a natural source of carotenoids, β-carotene from red palm oil (RPO), for fortification. Although RPO interventions have also been shown to effectively prevent Vitamin A deficiency, there are numerous challenges in using beta-carotene from RPO as a fortification technique. β-Carotene can induce significant changes in appearance and taste of the fortified product. Moreover, costs of fortifying with beta-carotene are higher than with retinyl palmitate. Therefore, RPO should only be used as a source of Vitamin A if it is produced and used in its crude form and regularly consumed without frying. Furthermore, refined RPO should be fortified with retinyl palmitate, not β-carotene, to ensure that there is adequate Vitamin A content.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Diet
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Diterpenes
  • Edible Grain / chemistry
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Food, Fortified*
  • Humans
  • Palm Oil
  • Plant Oils / administration & dosage*
  • Plant Oils / chemistry
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Retinyl Esters
  • Vitamin A / administration & dosage
  • Vitamin A / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamin A / chemistry
  • Vitamin A Deficiency / prevention & control*
  • beta Carotene / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Diterpenes
  • Plant Oils
  • Retinyl Esters
  • beta Carotene
  • Vitamin A
  • retinol palmitate
  • Palm Oil