Provitamin A Carotenoid–Biofortified Maize Consumption Increases Pupillary Responsiveness among Zambian Children in a Randomized Controlled Trial. Issue 12 (19th October 2016) - Palmer, Amanda C
Abstract: Background: Impaired dark adaptation is an early functional indicator of vitamin A deficiency that may be prevented by regular dietary intake of foods containing provitamin A carotenoids. Objective: We tested the impact of provitamin A carotenoid–biofortified maize consumption (∼15 μg β-carotene/g) on dark adaptation in Zambian children. Methods: We used a cluster-randomized trial of children aged 4–8 y ( n = 1024) in Mkushi District, Zambia, and compared the regular consumption (2 meals/d, 6 d/wk for 6 mo) of biofortified orange maize (OM) to white maize (WM). The primary outcome was the serum retinol response. In a random sample ( n = 542), we used a digital pupillometer to test pre- and postintervention responses to graded light stimuli (−2.9 to 0.1 log cd/m 2 ) in a dark-adapted state. Results: At baseline, 11.7% of the children had serum retinol <0.7 μmol/L, 14.4% had impaired dark adaptation (pupillary threshold ≥ −1.11 log cd/m 2 ), and 2.3% had night blindness. The mean ± SD pupillary responsiveness to light stimuli was poorer at baseline in the OM group (16.1% ± 6.6%) than the WM group (18.1% ± 6.4%) ( P = 0.02) but did not differ at follow-up (OM: 17.6% ± 6.5%; WM: 18.3% ± 6.5%). Among children with serum retinol <1.05 μmol/L at baseline, there was greater improvement in pupillary responsiveness in the OM group (2.2%; 95% CI: 0.1%, 4.3%) than the WM group (0.2%; 95% CI: −1.1%, 1.5%; P = 0.01), but there were no differences in children with adequate baseline status. We found no effect of treatment on pupillary threshold or night blindness. Conclusions: The regular consumption of provitamin A carotenoid–biofortified maize increased pupillary responsiveness among children with marginal or deficient vitamin A status, providing evidence of a functional benefit to consuming this biofortified crop. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01695148.