17
Comments Food Sources Benefits
Sufficient: >85 mcg/dL
Marginal: >70 to less than or
equal to 85 mcg/dL
Low: Less than or equal to
70 mcg/dL
High quality protein,
meat, fish, eggs
May help fill in the gap for
any potential micronutrient
imbalances
Tobacco Smokers need
additional Vit C:
35 g beyond daily limit
Citrus fruits and juices,
tomatoes, potatoes
broccoli
Collagen formation,
enhances activation of
leukocytes and macrophages
to wounds, improves
tensile strength, aids in iron
absorption
Sufficient: Above 30 ng/mL
Insufficient: >20 less than or
equal to 30 ng/mL
Deficient: Less than or equal
to 20 ng/mL
Sunlight, fish liver oils,
fatty fish, fortified
milk, breakfast cereal
Neuromuscular functions,
bone calcification, and other
important cellular processes
Serum concentrations depend
on the liver
Wheat germ, seeds,
nuts, vegetable oils,
green leafy vegetables
and fortified cereals
Quenches free radicals and
helps maintain membrane
integrity
Subnormal serum or plasma
values as those lower than
200 or 250 pg/mL (148 or
185 pmol/L)
Present in foods of
animal origin: fish,
meat, poultry, eggs,
and dairy products.
Fortified breakfast
cereals, fortified yeast
Inadequacy of plasma retinol
concentration
• In some populations
▶ <0.70 μmol/L
(or 20 mcg/dL)
• Marginal concentrations in
some people
▶ 70–1.05 μmol/L
Beef liver, fish oils, fish,
milk, eggs, fortified
cereals
Provitamin A:
orange and yellow
vegetables, tomato
products, carrots,
squash, cantaloupe,
broccoli
Supports wound strength
and healthy new tissue
