Serum beta-carotene, retinol, and alpha-tocopherol levels during mineral oil therapy for constipation
J. H. Clark, G. J. Russell, J. F. Fitzgerald and K. E. Nagamori
Department of Pediatrics, James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children, Indianapolis.
Twenty-five children with chronic constipation underwent serial monitoring
of serum beta-carotene, retinol (vitamin A1), and alpha-tocopherol (vitamin
E) levels during mineral oil therapy. Mineral oil was administered between
meals. Patients were monitored for up to four months of therapy. Mean serum
beta-carotene levels fell from 1.0 +/- 0.5 mumol/L (55.7 +/- 26.0
micrograms/dL) to 0.7 +/- 0.4 mumol/L (35.9 +/- 22.1 micrograms/dL) after
the first month of mineral oil therapy and remained depressed throughout
the remainder of the study. Serum alpha-tocopherol levels remained
unchanged throughout the observation period. There was a modest increase in
serum retinol levels during the study, especially after three months (from
1.48 +/- 0.84 mumol/L [42.3 +/- 24.1 micrograms/dL] to 2.22 +/- 0.77
mumol/L [63.5 +/- 22.1 micrograms/dL]). We conclude that while a short
course of mineral oil can induce a reduction in the serum level of
beta-carotene, the treatment has no adverse effect on serum levels of
retinol and alpha-tocopherol.
