Natural Vitamin A
Carotino is enriched in the form of vitamin A that can help in ensuring good vision and preventing night blindness and many other types of eye problems.
Pro-Vitamin A, which is converted to Vitamin A in the body, is essential for healthy skin, hair, teeth and good vision. Carotino's pro-Vitamin A content is entirely natural so you can't have too much of it. Pro-vitamin A is different to Vitamin-A found in some meat products (e.g. liver and pate) and vitamin supplements, high doses of which should be avoided during pregnancy.
Beta-carotenes are very important form of vitamin A that help protect our body against many diseases like Alzheimer dementia, heart attack, cataracts, arthritis and cancers, by acting as anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants acts by protecting cells against dangerous chemicals released by our cells called free radicals; much the same way that anti rust protects metallic objects from rusting.
Improving Vitamin A and Antioxidant Status
Mothers and children in Burkina Faso experienced a reduction of 40 % in the prevalence rate of vitamin A deficiency after one year when the households were provided with red palm oil. The taste and appearance of red palm oil prepared dishes were socially acceptable.
Zagre N.M. et al., (2002), “Changes in vitamin A intake following the social marketing of red palm oil among children and women in Burkina Faso”, Sante. 12(1):38-44
Researchers at the showed that preschoolers supplemented with red palm oil (5 & 10ml) had the best gain in retinol and beta-carotene levels compared to groups supplemented with equivalent amounts of either groundnut oil fortified with 400 and 800 retinol equivalent of retinol palmitate or pure groundnut oil.
Sivan Y.S. et al., (2002), “Impact of vitamin A supplementation through different dosages of red palm oil and retinol palmitate on preschool children”, J. Tropical Paediatrics, Vol 48:24-28
An European multicenter placebo-controlled intervention study on healthy Spanish males showed that supplementation with natural extracts from red palm oil resulted in the highest increment in alpha and beta carotenes levels in serum compared to those supplemented with lutein, lycopene or alpha-tocopherol.
Olmedilla B. et al., (2002), “A European multicenter, placebo-controlled supplementation study with alpha-tocopherol, carotene-rich palm oil, lutein or lycopene: analysis of serum responses”, Clin Sc (Lon), 102(4):447-456
Another study at the National Institute of Nutrition in Hyderabad, India demonstrated that preschoolers consuming 5ml red palm oil per day had marked improvement in their serum beta-carotene levels.
Sivan Y.S., et al. (2001), “Impact of beta-carotene supplementation through red palm oil”, J. Tropical Paediatrics, Vol 47: 67-72
A study by the National Institute of Nutrition in Hanoi, Vietnam showed that CAROTINO red palm oil supplementation could significantly improved the serum retinal and Hb levels of rural under five children in Vietnam; Hb levels of red palm oil supplementation group were as high as those given in vitamin A capsules.
Nguyen T.L. et at., (2001), “Effects of red palm oil supplementation on vitamin A and iron status of rural under five children in Vietnam”, Proceedings of Food Technology & Nutrition Conference, International Palm Oil Congress 2001, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Prof.Keramat Ali of University of Dacca, Bangladesh showed that children suffering from respiratory infections and diarrhoeal diseases when given biscuits prepared using CAROTINO red palm oil had significantly increased serum retinol levels. These children also did not have any respiratory or diarrhoeal episode during the study period.
Ali S.M.K. et al. (2001), “Beta carotene to combat acute respiratory tract infection and diarrhoea disease in slum children of Dhaka, Bangladesh”, Proceedings of Food Technology & Nutrition Conference, International Palm Oil Congress 2001, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Prof. Louis Canfield of University of Arizona at Tucson demonstrated that mothers in Honduras who consumed CAROTINO red palm oil had significant increments in their serum and milk beta and alpha carotene concentrations respectively. Infants who were breast-fed by these supplemented mothers also had significantly higher serum retinal concentrations compared to the controls.
Canfield L.M. et al., (2000), “Red palm oil in the maternal diet improves the vitamin A status of lactating mothers and their infants”, Food and Nutrition Bulletin, Vol 21(2): 144-148
World Food Prize laureate (2nd only to Nobel Prize), Prof. Nevin Scrimshaw of the University of United Nations recommended that red palm oil used as a salad and cooking oil or as blends with other vegetable cooking oils is a sustainable dietary approach to the prevention of sub-clinical vitamin A deficiency.
Scrimshaw N.S., (2000), “Nutritional potential of red palm oil for combating vitamin A deficiency”, Food and Nutrition Bulletin, Vol 21(2):195-201
The former Director of the famous National Institute of Nutrition in Hyderabad reiterated the value of red palm oil as a rich source of pro-vitamin A to treat and prevent vitamin A deficiency was well recognized and studied in India as far back as the 1930’s.
Narasinga Rao B.S., (2000), “Potential use of red palm oil in combating vitamin A deficiency in India”, Food and Nutrition Bulletin, Vol 21(2):202-211
Dr. Benade and his co-workers at the Medical Research Council of South Africa experiences in using CAROTINO red palm oil convinced them that the oil is the ideal fat for Vitamin A fortification in the baking industry, as red palm oil is the richest source of natural carotenes.
Benade A.J.S. et al. (2000), “South African experience with the use of red palm oil to improve the vitamin A status of primary school children”, Food and Nutrition Bulletin, Vol 21(2):212-214
Primary school children in South Africa who consumed four pieces of the CAROTINO red palm oil biscuits per day had significantly higher levels of their serum retinol levels. The biscuits are well accepted for their tastes and appearances.
Stuijvenberg M.E. et al. (2000), “Red palm oil as a source of beta-carotene in a school biscuits used to address vitamin A deficiency in primary school children”, Inter J Fd Sc and Nutr., 51:S43-50
Dr. Georg Lietz from University of Dundee, UK showed that Tanzania pregnant women supplemented with CAROTINO red palm oil had significantly higher levels of alpha- and beta-carotene in their plasma and breast milk.
Lietz G. et al., (2000), “Use of red palm oil for promotion of maternal vitamin A status”, Food and Nutrition Bulletin, Vol 21(2):215-218
Dr Manaroma of Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University, India showed that red palm oil consumption increased the serum anti-oxidants concentration, and improved iron absorption and lipid profile of anemic adolescent girls.
Manorama R., et al., (1997), “Red palm oil for combating vitamin A deficiency”, Asia Pac J Clin Nutr., 6(1): 56-59
Former Deputy Director of National Institute of Nutrition in Hyderabad, Dr Rukmini recommended red palm oil for developing and developed countries because of its excellent content of pro-vitamin A and antioxidants levels such as beta-carotene, tocotrienols and tocopherols. These substances are also good free radical scavengers, besides having antimutagenic and hypocholesterolemic properties.
Rukmini C, (1994), “Red palm oil to combat vitamin A deficiency in developing countries”, Food and Nutrition Bulletin, Vol 15(2): 126-129
CAROTINO-fortified spread was well accepted by South Africa school children as a micronutrient-rich aflatoxin-free alternative for peanut butter in school feeding programme. The children’s vitamin A and haemoglobin status improved after consuming the CAROTINO spread.
Benade et al. (2005), “The development, nutritional composition and acceptability of a red palm oil based micronutrient-fortified bread spread for feeding programs”. Proceedings of PIPOC 2005:203-208
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