Impact of daily feeding of carotenoid‐rich foods on plasma carotenoid and vitamin A concentrations in lactating women with marginal vitamin A status

Vitamin A (VA) is necessary for normal growth, development, immune function, and vision. Carotenoids such as β‐carotene (BC) and β‐cryptoxanthin (CX) can be converted to VA and are often the major source of VA in the diets of people from developing countries. Our clinical trial is assessing the impact of a dietary intervention with foods rich in CX and BC on plasma and breast milk concentrations of VA, BC, and CX. We randomly assigned breastfeeding women to receive a VA supplement (0.5 mg), tangerines (6 mg CX), orange sweet potatoes (12 mg BC), or white potatoes (0 mg RE) in divided doses 6 days a week for three weeks. Concentrations of VA, BC, and CX are measured in plasma and…