Red palm olein supplementation as a potential preventive solution for xerophthalmia among vitamin A-deficient primary schoolchildren: a cluster randomized controlled trial

Tan PY 1 , Lim CC 2 , Seng KBH 2 , Loganathan R 3 , Lim YA 4 , Teng KT 1 Show all authors , Mohd Johari SN 4 , Selvaduray KR 1 , Ramli N 5

Affiliations 

  • 1 Product Development and Advisory Services Division, Malaysian Palm Oil Board, No. 6, Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 2 Universiti Malaya Eye Research Centre, Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 3 Product Development and Advisory Services Division, Malaysian Palm Oil Board, No. 6, Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, 43000, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia. radhika@mpob.gov.my
  • 4 Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 5 Universiti Malaya Eye Research Centre, Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. norlina@ummc.edu.my
Eur J Clin Nutr, 2025 Sep;79(9):928-936.
PMID: 40247111 DOI: 10.1038/s41430-025-01620-2

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of carotenoid-rich red palm olein (RPO) in treating or preventing xerophthalmia among Malaysian rural primary schoolchildren with confirmed vitamin A deficiency (VAD) (plasma retinol <0.70 µmol/L) and marginal vitamin A status (plasma retinol 0.70 to <1.05 µmol/L).

METHODS: A double-blinded, cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted on 504 schoolchildren aged 8-12 years from ten rural primary schools in Malaysia. The selected schools were randomly assigned into two groups: the experimental group (n = 249) received RPO-enriched biscuits (326.3 µg retinol equivalents/day), while the control group (n = 255) received palm olein (PO)-enriched biscuits for 6 months (4 days/week). Chi-square test and mixed effects logistic regression model were applied to examine the effects of supplementation on the resolution or prevention of xerophthalmia.

RESULTS: After 6-month supplementation, a higher resolution rate of xerophthalmia (31.2%) was observed in the experimental group compared to the control group (24.1%), but this difference lacked statistical significance (p = 0.11). Nevertheless, the experimental group showed a significantly higher prevention rate of xerophthalmia (81.8%) or conjunctival xerosis (82.5%) than the control group (56.5% or 57.6%, respectively) after 6-month supplementation (p 

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

MeSH terms
Similar publications