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Background: Vitamin A and E are required in physiological processes such as pregnancy and growth. Aim: To evaluate retinol and alpha-tocopherol serum levels in Greek and Albanian mothers and in their newborns. Methods: Data concerned 1125 Greek and 898 Albanian mothers along with their newborns. Immediately after delivery, blood from the umbilical cord and from the mothers was collected into light-protected tubes. Retinol and alpha-tocopherol serum levels were measured with a reversed-phase HPLC method. A 60-d dietetic diary was kept by each woman during the last 2 mo of pregnancy. Results: Retinol (1.3 +/- 0.1 mumol/l) and alpha-tocopherol (32.9 +/- 9.5 mumol/l) levels were estimated to be normal in Greek mothers and in most of their offspring (0.9 +/- 0.1 and 18.5 +/- 3.4 mumol/l, respectively). In contrast, in Albanian mothers, retinol concentration was found to be low (0.6 +/- 0.1 mumol/l), and in 1/3 significantly low ( |
