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Background: Nutrition assessment is a routine method for determining the nutritional needs of individuals, especially for vulnerable groups (women, infants, and children). One of the important criteria for assessment of nutritional status is determining the concentration of a nutrient after its intake. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 80 lactating mothers were selected from private and public hospitals in Tabriz. Data gathered through the questionnaire included general information concerning lactating mothers and also their nutritional diet. Since vitamin A and beta-carotene were measured through Karr-Price method, vitamin A and beta-carotene concentrations were measured at 620 nm wavelength. Results: There was a significant positive correlation between retinol intake and colostrum retinol of lactating mothers (p≤0.01) (r = 0.28). Also, retinol intake showed a positive and significant correlation with total vitamin A (retinol equivalent) in colostrum (p≤0.002) (r= 0.33). Conclusion: Daily retinol and beta-carotene intake affect retinol of colostrum which its proper concentration in mother’s milk can play an important role in better function of this vitamin for both mother and child.

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Background: There is priority for evaluation of micronutrients (vitamin A) in the world, especially in develpoing countries like Iran. Vitamin A has an essentiall role in growth, reproduction, and maintenace of epithelial cells. Vitamin A, especially retinoic acid,  acts like a hormone for gene expression. Vitamin A is necessary for growth of bones and immune system. The role of vitamin A in reducing mortality rates of neonates is well recognized. The aim of research is to evaluate this micronutrient (vitamin A) and the rate of transportation from mother to fetus and its positive effects on birth weight.

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, 90 pregnant mothers were selected from private and public hospitals in Arak. Data were gathered through a questionnaire including general information concerning pregnant mothers and also their nutritional diet. The analysis of dietary intake was done by Nutritionist IV software. The measurements of serum and cord blood retinol samples were carried with reverse phase HPLC. Data analysis was done by Pearson correlation.

Results: The results indicated a positive and significant correlation between cord blood retinol of mothers and birth weight of neonates (r=0.22) (p&ge0.05). There was not a significant correlation between serum retinol of the mothers and birth weight of the neonates. Also, there was no significant correlation between retinol intakes of the mothers and birth weight of the neonates.

Conclusion: Improvement of the retinol status of mothers has an effective role in normal birth weight of neonates.