Healthy birth weight results in higher vitamin A storage in neonate piglets administered high-dose supplements

A proposed intervention for newborn infants in countries with suspected vitamin A (VA) deficiency is to administer 50,000 IU retinyl palmitate at birth to reduce mortality risk. However, no studies have investigated birth weight effects. In this study, low birth weight (LBW; \u3c1 kg, n = 18) and healthy birth weight (HBW) piglets (\u3e1.5 kg, n = 18) from VA-depleted sows were dosed with 25,000 or 50,000 IU retinyl palmitate (26.2 or 52.4 µmol retinol equivalents) at birth to compare VA reserves. Blood was collected at varying times (n = 3–5/time/dose), and piglets were killed at 12 or 24 h for blood, liver, kidneys, spleen, lungs, adrenal gland, and intestinal contents. HBW piglets had significantly higher birth, death, and organ weights than LBW (P \u3c 0.0001 for all). HBW and LBW piglets, which received VA, had higher liver and kidney VA concentrations (0.18 ± 0.09, 0.24 ± 0.10 µmol/g liver and 13.4 ± 4.1, 14.2 ± 4.5 nmol/g kidney, respectively) than controls (n = 10) (0.051 ± 0.01 µmol/g liver and 1.01 ± 0.43 nmol/g kidney) (P = 0.0061 and \u3c 0.0001, respectively). Total liver (9.75 ± 5.16 µmol) and kidney retinol (204 ± 79.1 nmol) were higher in HBW than LBW piglets (P \u3c 0.0001). Extrahepatic tissues, except lung, had higher VA concentration than controls (P \u3c 0.0001). Serum retinol and ester concentrations were higher in treated than control piglets (P = 0.0028, P \u3c 0.0001, respectively), and significantly changed during the times sampled (P = 0.022, P = 0.011, respectively). Peak serum retinyl ester concentrations, which occurred at 3 h, were higher in piglets that received 50,000 IU (4.2 ± 4.4 µmol/L) than 25,000 IU (2.7 ± 2.3 µmol/L) (P = 0.031). Regardless of dose amount, HBW piglets stored more supplemental VA than LBW piglets when administered at birth

High-provitamin A carotenoid (orange) maize increases hepatic vitamin A reserves of offspring in a vitamin A depleted sow-piglet model during lactation

The relationship of dietary vitamin A transfer from mother to fetus is not well understood. The difference in swine offspring liver reserves was investigated between single-dose vitamin A provided to the mother post-conception compared with continuous provitamin A carotenoid dietary intake from biofortified (enhanced provitamin A) orange maize (OM) fed during gestation and lactation. Vitamin A-depleted sows were fed OM (n = 5) or white maize (WM) + 1.05 mmol retinyl palmitate administered at the beginning of gestation (n = 6). Piglets (n = 102) were killed at 0, 10, 20, and 28 d after birth. Piglets from sows fed OM had higher liver retinol reserves (P \u3c 0.0001) and a combined mean concentration from d 10 to 28 of 0.11 ± 0.030 μmol/g. Piglets from sows fed WM had higher serum retinol concentrations (0.56 ± 0.25 μmol/L; P = 0.0098) despite lower liver retinol concentrations of 0.068 ± 0.026 μmol/g from d 10 to 28. Milk was collected at 0, 5, 10, 20, and 28 d. Sows fed OM had a higher milk retinol concentration (1.36 ± 1.30 μmol/L; P = 0.038), than those fed WM (0.93 ±1.03 μmol/L). Sow livers were collected at the end of the study (n = 3/group) and had identical retinol concentrations (0.22 ± 0.05 μmol/g). Consumption of daily provitamin A carotenoids by sows during gestation and lactation increased liver retinol status in weanling piglets, illustrating the potential for provitamin A carotenoid consumption from biofortified staple foods to improve vitamin A reserves. Biofortified OM could have a measurable impact on vitamin A status in deficient populations if widely adopted

β-cryptoxanthin–biofortified hen eggs enhance vitamin A status when fed to male Mongolian gerbils

Background Consumption of provitamin A carotenoid biofortified crops, such as maize, supports vitamin A (VA) status in animals and humans. Laying hens that consume β-cryptoxanthin–biofortified maize deposit β-cryptoxanthin into egg yolk. Objective We investigated whether β-cryptoxanthin–biofortified egg consumption would affect VA status of male Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) compared with white-yolked eggs. Methods β-Cryptoxanthin–biofortified egg yolk, produced in hens fed biofortified orange maize or tangerine-fortified maize feeds, was freeze-dried and fed to gerbils. White-yolked eggs were produced by feeding white maize to hens. Gerbils (n = 57) were fed VA-deficient feed for 28 d. After baseline (n = 7), treatments (n = 10/group) included oil control (VA−); 16.7% orange maize–biofortified, tangerine-fortified, or white-yolk egg feeds; or retinyl acetate as positive control (VA+) matched to daily preformed retinol intake from the eggs for 30 d. Preformed retinol did not differ between the egg yolks. Gerbil liver retinol, lipid, fatty acids, and cholesterol were determined. Results Liver retinol concentration (0.13 ± 0.03 µmol/g) and total hepatic VA (0.52 ± 0.12 µmol) were higher in gerbils fed orange maize–biofortified eggs than in all other groups. The VA− group was severely VA deficient (0.018 ±0.010 µmol/g; P \u3c 0.05). Liver retinol was similar among VA+, tangerine-egg–, and white-egg–fed gerbils, but retinol reserves were higher in tangerine-egg–fed gerbils (0.35 ± 0.11 μmol) than in VA+ or VA− gerbils or at baseline (P \u3c 0.05). Liver fat was 3.6 times (P \u3c 0.0001) and cholesterol was 2.1 times (P \u3c 0.004) higher in egg-fed groups that experienced hepatosteatosis. Liver fatty acid profiles reflected feed, but retinyl ester fatty acids did not. Conclusions The preformed retinol in the eggs enhanced gerbil VA status, and the β-cryptoxanthin–biofortified eggs from hens fed orange maize prevented deficiency. Biofortified maize can enhance VA status when consumed directly or through products from livestock fed orange maize

Biofortified orange maize enhances β-cryptoxanthin concentrations in egg yolks of laying hens better than tangerine peel fortificant

The xanthophyll β-cryptoxanthin provides vitamin A and has other purported health benefits. Laying hens deposit xanthophyll carotenoids into egg yolk. Hens (n = 8/group) were fed conventional-bred high β-cryptoxanthin biofortified (orange) maize, tangerine peel-fortified white maize, lutein-fortified yellow maize, or white maize for 40 d to investigate yolk color changes using L*a*b* scales, yolk carotenoid enhancement, and hen vitamin A status. Yolks from hens fed orange maize had scores indicating a darker, orange color and mean higher β-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, and β-carotene concentrations (8.43 ± 1.82, 23.1 ± 4.8, 0.16 ± 0.08 nmol/g, respectively) than other treatments (P \u3c 0.0001). Yolk retinol concentrations (mean: 14.4 ± 3.42 nmol/g) were similar among groups and decreased with time (P \u3c 0.0001). Hens fed orange maize had higher liver retinol (0.53 ± 0.20 μmol/g liver) than other groups (P \u3c 0.0001). β-Cryptoxanthin-biofortified eggs could be another choice for consumers, providing enhanced color through a provitamin A carotenoid and supporting eggs’ status as a functional food

β-Cryptoxanthin–Biofortified Hen Eggs Enhance Vitamin A Status When Fed to Male Mongolian Gerbils

Background Consumption of provitamin A carotenoid biofortified crops, such as maize, supports vitamin A (VA) status in animals and humans. Laying hens that consume β-cryptoxanthin–biofortified maize deposit β-cryptoxanthin into egg yolk. Objective We investigated whether β-cryptoxanthin–biofortified egg consumption would affect VA status of male Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) compared with white-yolked eggs. Methods β-Cryptoxanthin–biofortified egg yolk, produced in hens fed biofortified orange maize or tangerine-fortified maize feeds, was freeze-dried and fed to gerbils. White-yolked eggs were produced by feeding white maize to hens. Gerbils (n = 57) were fed VA-deficient feed for 28 d. After baseline (n = 7), treatments (n = 10/group) included oil control (VA−); 16.7% orange maize–biofortified, tangerine-fortified, or white-yolk egg feeds; or retinyl acetate as positive control (VA+) matched to daily preformed retinol intake from the eggs for 30 d. Preformed retinol did not differ between the egg yolks. Gerbil liver retinol, lipid, fatty acids, and cholesterol were determined. Results Liver retinol concentration (0.13 ± 0.03 µmol/g) and total hepatic VA (0.52 ± 0.12 µmol) were higher in gerbils fed orange maize–biofortified eggs than in all other groups. The VA− group was severely VA deficient (0.018 ±0.010 µmol/g; P \u3c 0.05). Liver retinol was similar among VA+, tangerine-egg–, and white-egg–fed gerbils, but retinol reserves were higher in tangerine-egg–fed gerbils (0.35 ± 0.11 μmol) than in VA+ or VA− gerbils or at baseline (P \u3c 0.05). Liver fat was 3.6 times (P \u3c 0.0001) and cholesterol was 2.1 times (P \u3c 0.004) higher in egg-fed groups that experienced hepatosteatosis. Liver fatty acid profiles reflected feed, but retinyl ester fatty acids did not. Conclusions The preformed retinol in the eggs enhanced gerbil VA status, and the β-cryptoxanthin–biofortified eggs from hens fed orange maize prevented deficiency. Biofortified maize can enhance VA status when consumed directly or through products from livestock fed orange maize

High-Provitamin A Carotenoid (Orange) Maize Increases Hepatic Vitamin A Reserves of Offspring in a Vitamin A-Depleted Sow-Piglet Model during Lactation

The relationship of dietary vitamin A transfer from mother to fetus is not well understood. The difference in swine offspring liver reserves was investigated between single-dose vitamin A provided to the mother post-conception compared with continuous provitamin A carotenoid dietary intake from biofortified (enhanced provitamin A) orange maize (OM) fed during gestation and lactation. Vitamin A-depleted sows were fed OM (n = 5) or white maize (WM) + 1.05 mmol retinyl palmitate administered at the beginning of gestation (n = 6). Piglets (n = 102) were killed at 0, 10, 20, and 28 d after birth. Piglets from sows fed OM had higher liver retinol reserves (P \u3c 0.0001) and a combined mean concentration from d 10 to 28 of 0.11 ± 0.030 μmol/g. Piglets from sows fed WM had higher serum retinol concentrations (0.56 ± 0.25 μmol/L; P = 0.0098) despite lower liver retinol concentrations of 0.068 ± 0.026 μmol/g from d 10 to 28. Milk was collected at 0, 5, 10, 20, and 28 d. Sows fed OM had a higher milk retinol concentration (1.36 ± 1.30 μmol/L; P = 0.038), than those fed WM (0.93 ±1.03 μmol/L). Sow livers were collected at the end of the study (n = 3/group) and had identical retinol concentrations (0.22 ± 0.05 μmol/g). Consumption of daily provitamin A carotenoids by sows during gestation and lactation increased liver retinol status in weanling piglets, illustrating the potential for provitamin A carotenoid consumption from biofortified staple foods to improve vitamin A reserves. Biofortified OM could have a measurable impact on vitamin A status in deficient populations if widely adopted