Evaluation of a Green Leafy Vegetable Intervention in Ghanaian Postpartum Mothers (Report‪)‬

INTRODUCTION The vitamin A status of under-privileged women and children is compromised and this is exacerbated by low socio-economic status [1-4]. Low dietary intakes and increased requirements during different life stages contribute to inadequate vitamin A liver reserves. Assessing vitamin A status is important in determining which population groups are at risk of deficiency [5]. Serum retinol concentrations are homeostatically controlled and do not begin to decline until liver reserves are dangerously low [6]. In times of infection, serum retinol concentrations are reduced due to the acute phase response [7]. Moreover, during acute infection, retinol is excreted in significant amounts in the urine, increasing requirements [8].