. 2019 Jan 3;35(2):197–204. doi: 10.1007/s12291-018-0807-1

Table 2.

Biochemical outcomes: plasma retinol, RBP and ∆-RBP

Parameter	Time point of assessment	Vitamin A group (n = 55)	Placebo group (n = 59)	p value
Plasma retinol levels (µg/L)	At study entry	94 (81,147)	94 (76,110)	0.15
Median (1st, 3rd quartile)	On day 14 ± 2	273 (180,454)	119 (87,161)	< 0.001
	On day 28 ± 2	n = 54	n = 57	< 0.001
	On day 28 ± 2	489 (295,627)	184 (156,240)	< 0.001
Vitamin A deficiency (plasma retinol < 200 µg/L) n (%)	At study entry	52 (94.5)	58 (98.3)	0.35
	On day 14 ± 2	16 (29.1)	56 (94.9)	< 0.001
	On day 28 ± 2	n = 54	n = 57	< 0.001
	On day 28 ± 2	2 (3.7)	35 (61.4)	< 0.001
Severe vitamin A deficiency (plasma retinol < 100 µg/L) n (%)	At study entry	29 (52.7)	36 (61.0)	0.37
	On day 14 ± 2	0	21 (35.6)	< 0.001
	On day 28 ± 2	n = 54	n = 57	0.50^a
	On day 28 ± 2	0	2 (3.5)	0.50^a
RBP < 25 mg/L at study end n (%)		n = 41	n = 53	< 0.001
RBP < 25 mg/L at study end n (%)		5 (12.2)	32 (60.4)	< 0.001
∆-RBP > 10% at study end n (%)		n = 41	n = 53	0.03
∆-RBP > 10% at study end n (%)		13 (31.7)	29 (54.7)	0.03

Analysis of all categorical variables was by Chi square with continuity correction and all numerical variables was by Mann–Whitney test unless specified

RBP, retinol binding protein; ∆-RBP, change in retinol binding protein

^aFisher’s exact test