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Accepted manuscript

Metabolomics profiling of hypervitaminosis A in South African preschoolers is characterized by modified serum lysophospholipids and oxylipins

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 June 2025

Rairaja Cohen
Affiliation:
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
Jesse Sheftel
Affiliation:
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison
Jennifer Luevano
Affiliation:
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA Cal Poly Metabolomics Service Center, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
Meredith O. Kelly
Affiliation:
Cal Poly Metabolomics Service Center, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
Rob K. Fanter
Affiliation:
College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
Martha E. van Stuijvenberg
Affiliation:
Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council Division of Human Nutrition, Department of Global Health, Cape Town, South Africa
Muhammad A. Dhansay
Affiliation:
Division of Human Nutrition, Department of Global Health, Cape Town, South Africa Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
Alex Brito*
Affiliation:
School of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Rehabilitation and Quality of Life Sciences, Universidad San Sebastián, Patagonia Campus, Puerto Montt, Chile
Sherry A. Tanumihardjo
Affiliation:
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison
Michael R. La Frano*
Affiliation:
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA Cal Poly Metabolomics Service Center, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037
*
Corresponding authors: Michael R. La Frano, PhD, RD, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037. Email: mlafrano@salk.edu; Alex Brito, PhD. Universidad San Sebastián, Patagonia Campus, Chile. Address: Lago Panguipulli 1390, Puerto Montt, Los Lagos, Chile. Email: abrito@micronutriomics.com
Corresponding authors: Michael R. La Frano, PhD, RD, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037. Email: mlafrano@salk.edu; Alex Brito, PhD. Universidad San Sebastián, Patagonia Campus, Chile. Address: Lago Panguipulli 1390, Puerto Montt, Los Lagos, Chile. Email: abrito@micronutriomics.com
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Abstract

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Evidence indicates hypervitaminosis A may be attributed to overconsumption of natural preformed vitamin A (VA) and overlapping VA intervention strategies. Hypervitaminosis A can disrupt metabolic processes; however, the extent and mechanisms of these impacts are not well understood. This study aims to assess metabolic differences related to hypervitaminosis A and VA supplementation by performing metabolomics analysis. A subsample of South African preschoolers participating in the country’s VA supplementation program were selected. Participants were divided into two groups: adequate VA (n=15; 0.59–0.99 µmol/g total liver reserve (TLR)) and high VA (n=15; ≥1.0 µmol/g TLR). Serum samples were collected at baseline and 28 days after consuming a 200,000 IU VA supplement. Lipidomics and oxylipins assays were conducted using ultraperformance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). At baseline, unsaturated lysophosphatidylcholines (LPC) and unsaturated phosphatidylcholines (PC) were significantly lower in the high VA group (p<0.05). A group-by-time interaction with VA supplementation was observed for polyunsaturated LPCs and polyunsaturated PCs (p<0.05). Additionally, a group effect was noted for oxylipins, and a time effect in response to VA supplementation was seen with decreased arachidonic acid and lipoxygenase- and nonenzymatically-derived oxylipins (p<0.05). Hypervitaminosis A is associated with modifications in lipids involved in cell structure and signaling, particularly unsaturated LPCs and PCs. Further research is needed to identify the mechanisms behind these modifications, their physiological effects, and their potential as biomarkers of elevated vitamin A status(VAS).

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© The Authors 2025