Improved Retinol, Carotene, Ferritin, and Folate Status in Nuxalk Teenagers and Adults after a Health Promotion Programme

Abstract

Plasma retinol and carotene, erythrocyte folate, serum ferritin, and haemoglobin were determined in native people living on the west coast of British Columbia before and after a three-year intervention programme of nutrition education and health promotion emphasizing local cultural food. One hundred ninety-nine persons participated before (T1) and 267 after (T2) the programme, with 107 persons participating in both periods. Overall T2 mean ± SEM adult (20–60 years) retinol increased (p <.05) over T1 from 23.8 ± 0.5 to 42.4 ± 17.3 μg/dl, carotene increased from 37.4 ± 1.2 to 54.1 ± 1.6 μg/dl, and erythrocyte folate increased from 226 ± 8 to 264 ± 8 ng/ml. T2 mean ± SEM adult ferritin and haemoglobin for all ages/sexes combined did not change; however, haemoglobin for older women 41 to 60 years of age increased (p <.05) from 12.4 ± 0.4 to 13.2 ± 0.2 g/dl, and the percentage of teenagers at risk for low ferritin levels was reduced for females from 85% to 17% and for males from 50% to 11%. It was concluded that the intervention programme improved vitamin A and folate status for the overall community and iron status for teenagers.