Levels of vitamin A fortification in flour and vegetable oils sold in Kano metropolis

Abstract

This paper assessed the levels of compliance with vitamin A fortification by the manufacturers of flour and vegetable oils. This was carried out by the determination of vitamin A in the flour and vegetable oil samples which were purchased from retail outlets in Kano metropolis. The levels of vitamin A were determined colorimetric ally at 620nm after extraction. The levels of vitamin A in the flour samples ranged from 4125-8000 iu/kg and the levels in vegetable oils ranged between 4688 and 14250 iu/kg. The recommended value for flour is 25000 iu/kg and for vegetable oil it is 20000 iu/kg. It can be concluded that the degree of compliance in vitamin A fortification in flour and vegetable oil is low and more effort has to be put by the authorities concerned to ensure strict compliance by the manufacturers of these products.

Keywords: β-carotene, plasma retinol binding protein (pRBP), retinol, Vitamin A.