Title:Hidden Hunger of Vitamin E among Healthy College Students: A Cross- Sectional Study
Volume: 21
Issue: 6
Author(s): Zhongqi Wan, Li Wang, Yinyang Xu, Yuanyuan Wang, Tianyou Zhang, Xinlan Mao, Qiao Li, Yangzhi Zhu, Ming Zhou*Zhong Li*
Affiliation:
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing,China
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing,China
Keywords:
Hidden hunger, fat-soluble vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin E, BMI, college students.
Abstract:
Background: College students may have a risk of fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies due
to unhealthy dietary habits, especially for vitamin A and E. They are important members of the human
antioxidant network; deficiencies of these vitamins may increase the risk of many critical diseases.
Objective: The current study was undertaken to determine the status of vitamin A and E in college
students.
Methods: Healthy college students were recruited, and fasting blood samples of them were collected
and used for determining serum levels of retinol and α-tocopherol by the HPLC method.
Results: We found that there was no vitamin A deficiency in college students. However, vitamin E
deficiency existed in 34.5% of college students, especially in males. All the students had no vitamin
E adequacy. In addition, our findings showed that BMI was inversely associated with serum α--
tocopherol, but not serum retinol.
Conclusion: These results suggest that vitamin E deficiency in college students should be given
more attention, and it is necessary to consider using vitamin E supplements.
