Nutritional status in Linxian, China: effects of season and supplementation

The ability of a supplement to counteract seasonal alterations in nutritional status for certain vitamins was studied in Linxian, an area in northern China with high rates of esophageal cancer. 150 subjects took one daily pill from April to August (16 weeks), whereas 50 subjects did not take any sup...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inInternational journal for vitamin and nutrition research Vol. 59; no. 2; p. 190
Main Authors Zheng, S F, Ershow, A G, Yang, C S, Li, G Y, Li, R S, Li, H, Zou, X L, Liu, X F, Song, L H, Qing, Q S
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Switzerland 1989
Subjects
Anthropometry
Avitaminosis - complications
China
Diet
Esophageal Neoplasms - epidemiology
Esophageal Neoplasms - etiology
Esophageal Neoplasms - prevention & control
Female
Folic Acid - physiology
Humans
Male
Minerals - administration & dosage
Minerals - blood
Nutritional Status
Pilot Projects
Seasons
Vitamins - administration & dosage
Vitamins - blood
China
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Summary:The ability of a supplement to counteract seasonal alterations in nutritional status for certain vitamins was studied in Linxian, an area in northern China with high rates of esophageal cancer. 150 subjects took one daily pill from April to August (16 weeks), whereas 50 subjects did not take any supplement. Deficiencies of ascorbic acid, riboflavin, folic acid, retinol and tocopherol were prevalent at the outset of the study. The changes in diet occurring between the end of the winter (April) and the start of the autumn vegetable harvest (August) were reflected in greatly improved ascorbic acid status and slightly improved riboflavin status. Plasma retinol, tocopherol, alpha-carotene and beta-carotene were little affected by season, whereas erythrocyte folate levels declined. The ascorbic acid, riboflavin, folate, retinol and tocopherol status of the supplemented subjects was significantly improved. After 16 weeks of supplementation, erythrocyte folate levels of subjects with esophageal dysplasia were improved but remained significantly lower than those of normal supplemented subjects, targeting folic acid as a nutrient of particular interest in this precancerous condition.
ISSN:0300-9831