Inflammation and Vitamin A

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#acute-phase-proteins #evidence-based-medicine #health-surveys #humans #inflammation

Inflammation and Vitamin A

Thurnham et al., 2015 | Food Nutr Bull | Meta Analysis

Citation

Thurnham David I. Inflammation and Vitamin A. Food Nutr Bull. 2015-Sep;36(3):290-8. doi:10.1177/0379572115597514

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Serum retinol concentrations are homeostatically controlled and only fall when liver stores of vitamin A are very low. Nevertheless, low concentrations of serum retinol occur in apparently healthy people where there is no evidence of vitamin A deficiency (VAD). OBJECTIVE: To determine the reason for low serum vitamin A concentrations where there is no VAD. METHODS: We observed that elevated acute-phase protein (APP) concentrations often accompanied low retinol concentrations, and we developed a model of the inflammatory response to categorize 4 groups of participants termed reference (no raised APP), incubation (raised acute APP only), early convalescence (both acute and chronic APP raised), and late convalescence (raised chronic APP only). We identified 7 studies with participants who could be allocated to the 4 groups, and using meta-analysis methods we calculated correction (ie, multiplication) factors 1.13, 1.24, and 1.11 to remove the influence of inflammation from the incubation, early, and late convalescent groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: In nutrition surveys or intervention studies to measure vitamin A status, workers should measure APP and correct retinol concentrations using the multiplication factors where inflammation is found.

Key Findings

In nutrition surveys or intervention studies to measure vitamin A status, workers should measure APP and correct retinol concentrations using the multiplication factors where inflammation is found.

Outcomes Measured

  • inflammatory markers

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size 7
Age Range See abstract
Condition deficiency

MeSH Terms

  • Acute-Phase Proteins
  • Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Inflammation
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin A Deficiency

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis
  • Vertical: vitamin-a

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09