Serum Retinol is associated with hemoglobin concentration in infants who are not Vitamin A deficient

There is evidence that vitamin A benefits hematopoiesis and iron metabolism. For this reason, we investigated the relationship of serum retinol concentration to hemoglobin concentration and biochemical indicators of iron status in Canadian aboriginal infants. No infant had biochemical evidence for vitamin A deficiency although 25.6% had anemia and 20.4% had iron deficiency.

Infants given vitamin supplements that contained vitamin A, ascorbic acid, and vitamin D3 had a higher hemoglobin concentration than infants not given supplements and a lower prevalence of anemia. In conclusion, vitamin A was positively associated with hemoglobin concentration in this pediatric population of infants, many of whom had anemia and iron deficiency.