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Table 1 Biochemical indicators of diet and nutrition listed by class, laboratory analysis method, and abbreviation

From: Changes in the concentrations of biochemical indicators of diet and nutritional status of pregnant women across pregnancy trimesters in Trujillo, Peru, 2004–2005

Biochemical indicator

Method imprecision

Fat-soluble vitamins (n = 5)

     HPLC-UV1

         Vitamin A (retinol)

3.5-3.8% at 0.70-3.50 μmol/L

         Vitamin A (retinyl palmitate)

>30% at < 0.15 μmol/L

         Vitamin A (retinyl stearate)

>30% at < 0.15 μmol/L

         Vitamin E (alpha-Tocopherol)

2.6-3.0% at 11.6-232 μmol/L

         Vitamin E (gamma-Tocopherol)

3.0-4.0% at 2.40-11.9 μmol/L

Carotenoids (n = 7)

     HPLC-UV

         alpha-Carotene

6.0-13.0% at >0.28 μmol/L

         beta-Carotene

6.0-13.0% at >0.28 μmol/L

         cis-beta-Carotene

6.0-13.0% at >0.28 μmol/L

         beta-Cryptoxanthin

6.0-13.0% at >0.27 μmol/L

         Lutein + Zeaxanthin

6.0-13.0% at >0.26 μmol/L

         trans-Lycopene

6.0-13.0% at >0.28 μmol/L

         total Lycopene

6.0-13.0% at >0.28 μmol/L

Iron indicators (n = 5)

     Immunoturbidimetry

         Ferritin

6.1-7.4% at 79–426 μg/L

     Colorimetry

         Iron

1.7-1.9% at 13.1-30.0 μmol/L

Unbound Iron-Binding Capacity

2.5-3.0% at 28.0-41.4 μmol/L

         Total Iron-Binding                                Capacity

N/A (calculated value)

         Transferrin                                Saturation

N/A (calculated value)

Trace element (n = 1)

     Atomic absorption spectrometry

         Selenium

0.04%

  1. 1 HPLC-UV  high performance liquid chromatography.