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Access to abstract restricted until 05/2017. / Access to thesis restricted until 05/2017. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

Papua New Guinea has been classified by the World Health Organisation as an area where clinical vitamin A deficiency (VAD) exists. This is at variance with the experience of the local physicians who do not encounter classical VAD in clinical practice. This pilot study was carried out to resolve this contradiction, since many suggestions have been made to fortify foods with Vitamin A. If done in the absence of concrete data to back up this classification, it could take the focus away from the real problem as well as potentially create problems of Vitamin A toxicity. Therefore, answers from this study could have far reaching implications in a country such as PNG, which has high childhood mortality and limited financial and manpower resources. The objective of this study was to determine the vitamin A status and identify risk factors of VAD in children aged 6 months to 6 years in a rural area of Papua New Guinea. The survey was carried out in the Ramu region of Madang province. Households and children were randomly selected and standard questionnaires were used to collect information about diet, previous illnesses and night blindness. The weight and height of all children was recorded and an ocular and physical examination carried out by trained personnel. In addition, haemoglobin estimation and examination of blood films for malaria parasites was carried out in all the children. In a randomly selected number of children, estimations of serum retinol and other micronutrient levels were carried out. Results: A total of 609 children were enrolled in the study. Biochemical parameters were studied in 106 of them .The mean age of the children was 35 months. Possible night blindness was reported in 4 children. No xerophthalmia was seen. The prevalence of serum retinol levels ( 0.7 (mol/L (WHO suggested cut off values for subclinical VAD) was 10.3%. Anthropometric indicators indicated a high proportion of the children had stunting and wasting or both. Analysis of dietary patterns, maternal literacy, food availability and other surrogate indicators indicated that the population is at mild-moderate risk of developing VAD. In conclusion, no evidence of clinical vitamin A deficiency was found. Subclinical vitamin A deficiency seemed to occur in this population at a level of mild-moderate public health importance. Further studies need to be carried out to assess the situation in different areas in PNG before policy decisions can be made with regards to mass vitamin A supplementation.

Thesis (DR. P.H.)--University of Michigan.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Biochemistry)) -- Mahidol University, 1976.

Thesis (M.S.) in Food Science and Human Nutrition--University of Maine, 2003. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 45-47).

Thesis (DR. P.H.)--University of Michigan.

In early Infancy, limited ingestion of vitamin E, especially the α-tocopherol form, and/or a high, intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids are reflected as a low serum tocopherol level. This vitamin E deficiency state is probably responsible for the development of an anemia characterized by abnormal erythrocyte hemolysis. Edema and skin changes may also be present. In order to ascertain the tocopherol status of infant formulas available in Canada, thirty-six representative formulas were chemically analyzed for vitamin E and polyunsaturated fatty acid contents. For the tocopherol analysis, a combination of the Emmerie-Engel procedure and two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography was used. An alkaline isomerization technique was chosen for the polyunsaturated fatty acid analysis. The vitamin E status of the various formulas was assessed in relation to three criteria of tocopherol adequacy - the α-tocopherol-to-PUFA ratio, the α-tocopherol content, and the level of International Units of vitamin E. With the exception of one formula which was supplemented with vitamin E, the twenty-one formulas based on fresh or modified cow's milk often contained insufficient tocopherol to meet the various criteria of adequacy. A large per cent of the vitamin E content in these formulas was present as α-tocopherol. The polyunsaturated fatty acid content was relatively low. In general, the fifteen proprietary formulas had much higher levels of vitamin E and polyunsaturated fatty acids than the formulas based on fresh or modified cow's milk. For many of the proprietary products, α-tocopherol constituted only a small part of the vitamin E content. Four of the proprietary formulas (including three which had been fortified with vitamin E) contained sufficient amounts of vitamin E to satisfy the three standards of adequacy. On the basis of the chemical analysis results, it is recommended that all infant formulas be supplemented with sufficient amounts of vitamin E. to meet the various criteria of adequacy. In this way, the risk of vitamin E deficiency in early childhood should be minimal. The present study is also concerned with past, present, and future trends in infant feeding practices. In the 1960's, the ready-to-feed hospital feeding systems, which are usually based on a proprietary preparation,were introduced in Canada. A survey conducted among Canadian hospitals indicated that the use of such systems has become widespread. At the same time, the popularity of the hospital-prepared formula system has declined. Consequently, the use of modified cow's milk formulas has declined in Canadian hospitals. However, such formulas are frequently used for home-feeding of infants. No definite trends were noted in the frequency of breast-feeding. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that has proven to be extremely important for human health. Vitamin D has important functions that regulate calcium and phosphate absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. The regulation of calcium and phosphorus metabolism is extremely important for the maintenance of the structural integrity of the human skeleton, neuromuscular function and a wide variety of metabolic processes. A major source of vitamin D for most children and adults if exposure to sunlight. During sun exposure 7-dehydrocholesterol in the epidermis and dermis absorb solar ultraviolet B radiation with wavelengths of 290-315nm. This results in it being converted to previtamin D. Once formed, the thermodynamically unstable previtamin D is isomerized to vitamin D. Vitamin D is then hydroxylated in the liver and the kidneys to its active form before it can act as a homeostatic regulator of calcium and phosphorus metabolism. There are certain patients who do not respond well to vitamin D supplements because they suffer from fat malabsorption syndromes such as cystic fibrosis, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. In addition, gastric bypass patients have difficulty in absorbing dietary and supplemental vitamin D. One approach for treating vitamin D deficiency in these patients is to recommend that they be exposed to artificial UVB radiation either from a tanning bed or from a Sperti vitamin D producing lamp. Novel ultraviolet emitting light emitting diodes (LED) have emerged as a promising solution because of their size, efficiency, and ability to use narrow band UV radiation. A LED has been developed to emit narrowband UVB radiation with a peak wavelength of that 295nm. This thesis provides evidence that this novel UVB-LED is able to cause the photo-conversion of 7-deyhdrocholesterol to previtamin D3 in vitro, using 7-dehydrocholesterol containing borosilicate ampoules as positive controls, as well as produce vitamin D3 in surgically obtained type II human skin. Results from this study suggest that vitamin D producing LEDs can be developed for the treatment of vitamin D deficiency, especially in patients with fat malabsorption syndromes.

One of the main nutrient deficiencies in Guatemala is vitamin A, mainly in pregnant women and children under the age of five. The consumption of plant material can improve vitamin A ingestion levels. It is necessary to research consumption frequency and preparation methods of the most commonly available plant materials, as well as the vitamin A content of these plant materials. This research took place in San Juan Ermita, Chiquimula in the communities of Chancó, Corral de Piedra, and Salitrón. The results demonstrated that the most commonly consumed plant material preparations were mulberry soup, chatate soup, toasted maize soup, chipilin soup, ayote soup, amaranth soup, and loroco turnovers.