Palm oil is a source of food, energy, and fatty acids. Besides a source of energy, the palm oil has relatively very high content of vitamin A compared to other foodstuffs. It is rich in beta carotene as antioxidant that reduces risk of cancer and precursor to vitamin A (Krinsky, 1993).
The red palm oil’s vitamin A content is higher than the vitamin A content of the vitamin-A-rich fruits, such as orange, carrot, banana and others.
Comparison of Vitamin A content (equivalent to Retinol). Palm oil compared to other foodstuffs.
Many health/medical researches have proven the palm oil’s vitamin A benefits to human health. The health benefits include preventing deficiency of vitamin A that may lead to a number of diseases, preventing and treating blindness, and boosting immunity. It is also beneficial for prevention of cancer/tumor disease, anti-free radicals, prevention of liver swelling, immunity improvement, reduction of cholesterol, mental functionality, prevention of coronary heart disease and blood vessels, and others. (Oey et al., 1967; Karyadi & Friends., 1968; Muhilal & Friends., 1991; Carlier et al., 1993; Richard, 1993; Choo, 1994; Ooi et al., 1994; Nagendran et al., 2000; Van Stuijvenberg and Benade, 2000; Canfield et al., 2001; Oguntibeju et al., 2009; Rice and Burns, 2010; Sandjaja et al., 2014).
Palm oil with vitamin A is also beneficial for treating various diseases caused by vitamin A deficiency, such as blindness, Xerophthalmia and Hemerolopia. The research conducted by Indonesia’s health ministry in 1963-1965 shows that the use of red palm oil (RPO) can increase the vitamin A status as can be seen through the increase of vitamin A in the serum of children (Oey, KL et al., 1967). Then the research conducted by Puslitbang Gizi Bogor (Muhilal dkk., 1991) shows that the palm oil can cure the disease of xerophthalmia in the form of hemerolopi (night blindness).
Based on the scientific data, the palm oil is not only a source of food and energy, but it also functions like “medicine” for various diseases as it is rich in nutrients and various vitamins, mainly vitamin A.
Source: Myth & Fact Palm Oil (8-04)
