Stable isotope techniques using 13C to assess vitamin A (VA) dietary sources, absorption, and total body VA stores (TBSs) require determination of baseline 13C abundance. 13C-natural abundance is ...approximately 1.1% total carbon, but varies with foods consumed, supplements taken, and food fortification with synthetic retinyl palmitate.
We determined 13C variation from purified serum retinol and the resulting impact on TBSs using pooled data from preschool children in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia and Zambian women.
Seven studies included children (n = 639; 56 ± 25 mo; 48% female) and one in women (n = 138; 29 ± 8.5 y). Serum retinol 13C-natural abundance was determined using GC-C-IRMS. TBSs were available in 7 studies that employed retinol isotope dilution (RID). Serum CRP and α1-acid-glycoprotein (AGP) were available from 6 studies in children. Multivariate mixed models assessed the impact of covariates on retinol 13C. Spearman correlations and Bland–Altman analysis compared serum and milk retinol 13C and evaluated the impact of using study- or global-retinol 13C estimates on calculated TBSs.
13C-natural abundance (%, median Q1, Q3) differed among countries (low: Zambia, 1.0744 1.0736, 1.0753; high: South Africa, 1.0773 1.0769, 1.0779) and was associated with TBSs, CRP, and AGP in children and with TBSs in women. 13C-enrichment from serum and milk retinol were correlated (r = 0.52; P = 0.0001). RID in children and women using study and global estimates had low mean bias (range, −3.7% to 2.2%), but larger 95% limits of agreement (range, −23% to 37%).
13C-natural abundance is different among human cohorts in Africa. Collecting this information in subgroups is recommended for surveys using RID. When TBSs are needed on individuals in clinical applications, baseline 13C measures are important and should be measured in all enrolled subjects.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Societal Impact Statement
Tomatoes are important to agriculture, human nutrition and cuisines globally. However, many commercial tomato varieties, including the saladette that dominates the North ...American market, are highly sensitive to environmental changes that impact yields and critical biochemical pathways including carotenoids and isoprenoids that influence nutritional content and flavour. We highlight the potential of tomato agrodiversity, notably its genetic diversity, as an undervalued research tool for understanding environmental regulation of plant biochemistry under different climates. Yet, tomato genetic diversity in Mexico, the major centre of tomato domestication, is not formally described or protected. We propose that transdisciplinary efforts are essential to identify, conserve and research these globally significant genetic resources.
Tomatoes are important to agriculture, human nutrition and cuisines globally. However, many commercial tomato varieties, including the saladette that dominates the North American market, are highly sensitive to environmental changes that impact yields and critical biochemical pathways including carotenoids and isoprenoids that influence nutritional content and flavour. We highlight the potential of tomato agrodiversity, notably its genetic diversity, as an undervalued research tool for understanding environmental regulation of plant biochemistry under different climates. Yet, tomato genetic diversity in Mexico, the major centre of tomato domestication, is not formally described or protected. We propose that transdisciplinary efforts are essential to identify, conserve and research these globally significant genetic resources.
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DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK