Abstract
Fortification programs are considered to be an effective strategy to mitigate vitamin A deficiency in populations at risk. Fortified vegetable oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids were shown to be prone to oxidation, leading to limited vitamin A stability. Thus, it was hypothesized that fortified oils consisting of mainly saturated fatty acids might enhance the stability of vitamin A. Mildly (peroxide value: 1.0 meq O2/kg) and highly (peroxide value: 7.5 meq O2/kg) oxidized palm oil was stored, after fortification with 60 International Units/g retinyl palmitate, in 0.5 L transparent polyethylene terephthalate bottles under cold fluorescent lighting (12 h/day) at 32 °C for 57 days. An increase of the peroxide value by 15 meq O2/kg, which was also reflected by a decrease of α-tocopherol congener by 15%–18%, was determined independent of the initial rancidity. The oxidative deterioration of the highly oxidized palm oil during storage was correlated with a significant 46% decline of the vitamin A content. However, household storage of mildly oxidized palm oil for two months did not induce any losses of vitamin A. Thus, mildly oxidized palm oil may be recommended for vitamin A fortification programs, when other sources of essential fatty acids are available.
Highlights
Vitamin A is involved in maintaining the function of epithelia, mucous membranes, immune and red blood cells and the visual system [1,2,3,4]
The palm oil was characterized by quantitation of the most abundant fatty acids
Soybean oil should be preferably used as a vehicle for fortification with vitamin A
Summary
Vitamin A is involved in maintaining the function of epithelia, mucous membranes, immune and red blood cells and the visual system [1,2,3,4]. Bioconversion and bioefficacy of provitamin A, consumption of provitamin A rich plant foods alleviates vitamin A deficiency in low-income populations [5,6,7]. Vitamin A deficiency leads to severe health impairments, such as mortality and xerophthalmia [8,9]. The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency is generally associated with a lower socioeconomic status of a population. In south-east Asia, 45%–55% preschool children were affected by a severe vitamin A deficiency in 1995–2005 [8]. In Africa, a total of 2.55 million preschool-age children suffer from vitamin A deficiency-induced night blindness [8]
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