American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 31, 876-885, Copyright © 1978 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc

ORIGINAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Hematopoietic studies in vitamin A deficiency

RE Hodges, HE Sauberlich, JE Canham, DL Wallace, RB Rucker, LA Mejia and M Mohanram

Recent studies of experimental vitamin A deficiency in man led the authors to conclude that anemia may result from lack of vitamin A. A review of numerous nutrition surveys in underdeveloped countries enhanced the suspicion that deficiency of vitamin A does contribute to the prevalence of anemia. Preliminary studies of vitamin A-deficient rats confirmed previous observations that anemia may result from lack of this vitamin. The livers of these animals had very low concentrations of vitamin A but normal or increased concentrations of iron. The finding of anemia is in contrast with other reports that vitamin A deficiency may cause elevated values for hemoglobin and hematocrit. The authors suggest that loss of taste and smell as a result of deficiency may account for refusal of experimental animals to eat and drink enough to prevent inanitation and dehydration. The resulting hemoconcentration may mask the true hematological picture, which is one of anemia.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. E Moriarty-Craige, U. Ramakrishnan, L. Neufeld, J. Rivera, and R. Martorell Multivitamin-mineral supplementation is not as efficacious as is iron supplementation in improving hemoglobin concentrations in nonpregnant anemic women living in Mexico Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, November 1, 2004; 80(5): 1308 - 1311. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. van den Broek Anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies: Reducing maternal death and disability during pregnancy Br. Med. Bull., December 1, 2003; 67(1): 149 - 160. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Walczyk, L. Davidsson, L. Rossander-Hulthen, L. Hallberg, and R. F Hurrell No enhancing effect of vitamin A on iron absorption in humans Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2003; 77(1): 144 - 149. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. H. Allen Iron Supplements: Scientific Issues Concerning Efficacy and Implications for Research and Programs J. Nutr., April 1, 2002; 132(4): 813S - 819. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Ghatpande, A. Ghatpande, J. Sher, M. H. Zile, and T. Evans Retinoid signaling regulates primitive (yolk sac) hematopoiesis Blood, April 1, 2002; 99(7): 2379 - 2386. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Muslimatun, M. K. Schmidt, C. E. West, W. Schultink, J. G. A. J. Hautvast, and D. Karyadi Weekly Vitamin A and Iron Supplementation during Pregnancy Increases Vitamin A Concentration of Breast Milk but Not Iron Status in Indonesian Lactating Women J. Nutr., October 1, 2001; 131(10): 2664 - 2669. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Muslimatun Weekly Supplementation with Iron and Vitamin A during Pregnancy Increases Hemoglobin Concentration but Decreases Serum Ferritin Concentration in Indonesian Pregnant Women J. Nutr., January 1, 2001; 131(1): 85 - 90. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				E. C Munoz, J. L Rosado, P. Lopez, H. C Furr, and L. H Allen Iron and zinc supplementation improves indicators of vitamin A status of Mexican preschoolers Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, March 1, 2000; 71(3): 789 - 794. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Elnour, L. Hambraeus, M. Eltom, M. Dramaix, and P. Bourdoux Endemic goiter with iodine sufficiency: a possible role for the consumption of pearl millet in the etiology of endemic goiter1 Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2000; 71(1): 59 - 66. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Trøen, W. Eskild, S. H. Fromm, L. M. De Luca, D. E. Ong, S. A. Wardlaw, S. Reppe, and R. Blomhoff Vitamin A–Sensitive Tissues in Transgenic Mice Expressing High Levels of Human Cellular Retinol-Binding Protein Type I Are Not Altered Phenotypically J. Nutr., September 1, 1999; 129(9): 1621 - 1627. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. C. Smith, D. Makdani, A. Hegar, D. Rao, and L. W. Douglass Vitamin A and Zinc Supplementation of Preschool Children J. Am. Coll. Nutr., June 1, 1999; 18(3): 213 - 222. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. J. Rosales, J.-T. Jang, D. J. Piñero, K. M. Erikson, J. L. Beard, and A. C. Ross Iron Deficiency in Young Rats Alters the Distribution of Vitamin A between Plasma and Liver and between Hepatic Retinol and Retinyl Esters J. Nutr., June 1, 1999; 129(6): 1223 - 1228. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A. Melnick and J. D. Licht Deconstructing a Disease: RAR{alpha}, Its Fusion Partners, and Their Roles in the Pathogenesis of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Blood, May 15, 1999; 93(10): 3167 - 3215. [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. G. Tenen, R. Hromas, J. D. Licht, and D.-E. Zhang Transcription Factors, Normal Myeloid Development, and Leukemia Blood, July 15, 1997; 90(2): 489 - 519. [Full Text] [PDF]