Abstract

The impact of feeding of dietary palm oil supplements on plasma vitamin A profile was investigated in animals. Four-week-old Wistar albino rats (n = 8 per group) were maintained for 28 days on standard rat food (4.7% fat by weight) supplemented (10%, 20% and 30% by weight) with red palm oil (RPO) and refined palm olein (REFPO). Plasma beta-carotene and vitamin A concentrations of rats fed RPO-based diets were higher than in rats fed REFPO and control diets. Animals fed 30% RPO-containing diets had lower plasma β -carotene concentrations than those fed 20% RPO-containing diets. The results suggest that consumption of palm oil in moderate amounts enhances growth of tissues and bioavailability of β -carotene, which may combat vitamin A deficiency in developing countries, in view of the fact that preformed vitamin A in animal products (namely meat, liver, eggs and fatty fish) is out of the reach of economically deprived people.

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