Title
Intake of vitamin e and c in women of reproductive age: Results from the latin american study of nutrition and health (elans)
Date Issued
01 June 2021
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Busso D.
David A.
Penailillo R.
Echeverría G.
Rigotti A.
Kovalskys I.
Gómez G.
Sanabria L.Y.C.
García M.C.Y.
Herrera-Cuenca M.
Fisberg M.
Publisher(s)
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Abstract
Vitamin E was identified as a lipophilic compound essential to maintain rat pregnancy. Low vitamin E intake during early pregnancy associates with congenital malformations and embryonic loss in animals and with miscarriage and intrauterine growth restriction in humans. Vitamin E protects cell membranes from lipoperoxidation and exerts non-antioxidant activities. Its function can be restored by vitamin C; thus, intake and circulating levels of both micronutrients are frequently analyzed together. Although substantial vitamin E inadequacy was reported worldwide, its consumption in Latin America (LatAm) is mostly unknown. Using data from the Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health (Estudio Latinoamericano de Nutrición y Salud, ELANS), we evaluated vitamin E and C intake in women of reproductive age (WRA) from eight LatAm countries and identified their main food sources. Two non-consecutive 24-h dietary recalls in 3704 women aged from 15 to 49 years and living in urban locations showed low average intake of vitamin E (7.9 mg/day vs. estimated average requirement (EAR) of 12 mg/day) and adequate overall vitamin C consumption (95.5 mg/day vs. EAR of 60 mg/day). The mean regional inadequacy was 89.6% for vitamin E and 36.3% for vitamin C. The primary food sources of vitamin E were fats and oils, as well as vegetables. Vitamin C intake was explained mainly by the consumption of fruit juices, fruits, and vegetables. Combined deficient intake of both vitamins was observed in 33.7% of LatAm women. Although the implications of low antioxidant vitamins’ consumption in WRA are still unclear, the combined deficient intake of both vitamins observed in one-third of ELANS participants underscores the need for further research on this topic.
Volume
13
Issue
6
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Nutrición, Dietética
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85107297669
PubMed ID
Source
Nutrients
ISSN of the container
20726643
Sponsor(s)
Funding: The research reported in this review was funded by Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo from the Government of Chile, through grant from Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico (FONDECYT) #1180347 to Dolores Busso. The ELANS and researchers (PIs and advisory board) were supported by a scientific grant from the Coca Cola Company as well as funds from Instituto Pensi/Hospital Infantil Sabara, International Life Science Institute of Argentina, Universidad de Costa Rica, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Universidad Central de Venezuela (CENDES-UCV)/Fundación Bengoa, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, and Instituto de Investigación Nutricional de Perú.
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus