Vitamin A levels lower in CF and inflammatory conditions

[Guest guest]

This seems to suggest that you might need a LOT more vitamin A if you

have an inflammatory condition. That might explain why some of us

seem to be doing well with such large amounts of liver or cod liver

oil.

Chris

______

J Cyst Fibros. 2004 Aug;3(3):143-9. Related Articles, Links

Vitamin A levels in patients with CF are influenced by the

inflammatory response.

Greer RM, Buntain HM, Lewindon PJ, Wainwright CE, Potter JM, Wong JC,

Francis PW, Batch JA, Bell SC.

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Queensland,

Brisbane, Australia. r.greer@...

BACKGROUND: Serum vitamin A, normally depressed in inflammatory

conditions, is frequently low in people with CF. Vitamin A is

important in respiratory epithelial regeneration and repair. We

hypothesised that serum vitamin A would be associated with

inflammation and disease severity. METHODS: Serum vitamin A (as

retinol), C-reactive protein (CRP), vitamin E, 25-hydroxy vitamin D

(25OHD), 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D (1,25(OH)(2)D), weight, and lumbar

spine bone mineral density (LSBMD) were measured in 138 subjects with

CF (5-56 years) and 138 control subjects (5-48 years). FEV(1),

presence of CF liver disease (CFLD) and hospital admissions were

recorded in those with CF. RESULTS: Serum vitamin A level was lower in

CF subjects than in controls (mean, 95% CI: 1.29, 1.0-1.37 vs. 1.80,

1.7-1.87 micromol/l, p < 0.0001), and inversely correlated with CRP

(r(s) = -0.37, p < 0.0001). CF subjects with low vitamin A (45%) level

had poorer FEV(1), weight z-score, LSBMD z-score, and higher CRP

compared with those with normal levels. In the CF group CRP, vitamin

E, 1,25(OH)(2)D, presence of CFLD, admissions, and age were associated

with vitamin A level. CONCLUSIONS: Serum vitamin A is negatively

associated with CRP in subjects with CF, consistent with normal

population studies. It is important to distinguish between low serum

vitamin A associated with the inflammatory response and that due to

poor nutritional stores. The role of vitamin A in CF warrants further

study, in the contexts both of chronic recurrent inflammatory disease

and acute pulmonary exacerbation.

--

Dioxins in Animal Foods:

A Case For Vegetarianism?

Find Out the Truth:

http://www.westonaprice.org/envtoxins/dioxins.html