Carotenoids, Retinol, and Intestinal Barrier Function in Children From Northeastern Brazil

Objectives: To investigate the association of carotenoids and retinol (vitamin A) with intestinal barrier function in children in an Urban community in Fortaleza, northeastern Brazil. Methods: Descriptive analysis of serum carotenoids and retinol concentrations with intestinal barrier function in 102 children from all urban community, July 2000 to August 2001. Results: The weight for height z score (wasting) showed that 19.6% (20/102) had mild mlanutrition (-1 to -2 z score). All of the children's Serum retinol concentrations were determined and none were severely deficient (<= 0.35 mu mol/L), 2.9% (3/102) were moderately (0.36-0.70 mu mol/L) deficient. 20.6% (21/102) were mildly (0.71-1.05 mu mol/L) deficient 76.5% (78/102) were vitamin A sufficient (> 1.05 mu mol/L). The lactulose:mannitol (L/M) ratio was elevated (>= 0.0864) in 49% (47/97) of children when compared with healthy children with normal L/M ratio (< 0.0864) in the same geographic area. Serum carotenoids, lutein, beta-cryptoxanthin and beta-carotene showed significant inverse correlations with the L/M ratio, but not lutein after adjusting for age. Acute phase proteins (C- reactive protein and alpha-acid glycoprotein) were significantly inversely correlated with retinol but not with carotenoids. Retinol and retinol-binding protein were not significantly associated with L/M ratio. Conclusions: These data suggest a disruption of intestinal barrier function in the paracellular pathway with low scrum concentrations of carotenoids. Carotenoids may provide a better marker for disupted intestinal harrier function than retinol-binding protein or retinol. JPGN 47:652-659, 2008.