Hidden Hunger of Vitamin E among Healthy College Students: A Cross- Sectional Study

Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets. 2021;21(6):1025-1030. doi: 10.2174/1871530321666210101165648.

Abstract

Background: College students may have a risk of fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies due to unhealthy dietary habits, especially for vitamin A and E. They are important members of the human antioxidant network; deficiencies of these vitamins may increase the risk of many critical diseases.

Objective: The current study was undertaken to determine the status of vitamin A and E in college students.

Methods: Healthy college students were recruited, and fasting blood samples of them were collected and used for determining serum levels of retinol and α-tocopherol by the HPLC method.

Results: We found that there was no vitamin A deficiency in college students. However, vitamin E deficiency existed in 34.5% of college students, especially in males. All the students had no vitamin E adequacy. In addition, our findings showed that BMI was inversely associated with serum α-- tocopherol, but not serum retinol.

Conclusion: These results suggest that vitamin E deficiency in college students should be given more attention, and it is necessary to consider using vitamin E supplements.

Keywords: BMI; Hidden hunger; college students.; fat-soluble vitamins; vitamin A; vitamin E.

MeSH terms

  • Body Mass Index*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diet, Fat-Restricted / adverse effects
  • Diet, Fat-Restricted / trends
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hunger / physiology*
  • Male
  • Students*
  • Universities / trends*
  • Vitamin A / blood
  • Vitamin A Deficiency / blood
  • Vitamin A Deficiency / diagnosis
  • Vitamin E / administration & dosage
  • Vitamin E / blood*
  • Vitamin E Deficiency / blood*
  • Vitamin E Deficiency / diagnosis
  • Vitamin E Deficiency / drug therapy
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin E