Perinatal Vitamin A (Retinol) Status of Northern Canadian Mothers and Their Infants

Vitamin A (retinol) status was determined in two groups living in the northern part of Canada: native (Indian and Inuit) and non-native (Caucasian). The dietary intake of vitamin A and its plasma concentration were measured prenatally, at delivery and postnatally in mothers. Plasma concentrations were also measured at birth and postnatally in their infants. The mean vitamin A intake of native mothers was significantly lower than that of non-native mothers, 661 ± 485 versus 1,377 ± 1,418 retinol equivalents (p