To investigate the association between vitamin A and iron metabolism, two studies were carried out: a cross-sectional study and an intervention trial. The cross-sectional analysis was carried out in 1060 children aged 1-8 y. Multiple-regression analysis was used to adjust for effects of age, gender, indices of the protein nutritional status, and infections. Retinol was significantly associated with hematocrit, serum Fe, transferrin, ferritin, and saturation of transferrin (%ST). To obtain further evidence as to whether this observed association is a causal one, an intervention trial was carried out. After collection of the baseline data of 300 children, 166 children with a hemoglobin concentration less than 7.5 mmol/L were selected. A random sub-sample of 78 children received vitamin A capsules; the other children served as control subjects. Two months after supplementation significant differences, adjusted for age, were found for retinol, retinol-binding protein, serum Fe, and %ST between the supplemented and the control group. After 4 mo none of the indices were found to be significantly different between the supplemented and the control group. Periodic massive doses of vitamin A may play a role in improving the Fe status as well.
An epidemiologic survey of the prevalence of xerophthalmia and vitamin A deficiency was conducted in May and June 1985 in a multistage random sample of 1,772 children 1-8 years of age from 16 rural villages and the capital city of the Sakon Nakhon province in northeastern Thailand. Data of clinical eye examinations were available for 92% (n = 903) of the eligible children aged 1-5 years (n = 982); history of night blindness was obtained from a reliable source from 93% (n = 1,644) of the whole sample; and biochemical data were available for 60% (1,060) of the children examined. The distribution of clinical signs of xerophthalmia and serum retinol levels differed between the rural and urban areas. In the urban area, no signs of xerophthalmia or deficient serum retinol levels were found in the preschool children examined. The prevalence of night blindness in the rural area was 1.3% in children aged 1-5 years (95% confidence interval (Cl) 0.7-1.9); Bitot's spots were seen in 0.4% (95% Cl 0.1-1.0); 12.7% (95% Cl 9.9-15.5) showed deficient serum retinol levels (less than 0.35 mumol/liter). Of the children aged 1-8 years, 9.6% (95% Cl 7.8-11.4) showed deficient serum retinol levels. In the rural area, the prevalence of night blindness, Bitot's spots, and deficient serum retinol levels indicates a problem of public health importance according to World Health Organization criteria.
To evaluate the iodine status of Dutch adults we used three different iodine status indicators, namely urinary 24-hour iodide excretion (I/24 h), iodide/creatinine ratio in 24-hour urine samples (I/Cr) and 24-hour iodide excretion per kilogram body weight (I/kg). Additionally, the habitual daily iodine intake was calculated. Men had higher mean I/24 h and mean iodine intake than women. No differences between men and women were found for mean I/Cr and mean I/kg. Relatively high (≧ 18 %) prevalences of low values for the different iodine status indicators were found, especially for I/24 h. The intraindividual variance for all three indicators was high. Risk assessment regarding iodine supply, based on urinary iodide excretion, depends on the indicator used, and therefore caution is called for when drawing conclusions. Our results do not argue against the usage of I/24 h as iodine status indicator. More research is needed to solve the question whether iodine requirement depends on such factors as body size, body composition and physical activity.
A study of trace element levels in hair was performed on 183 eight-year-old schoolchildren living in Bijlmermeer, a suburb of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Microlevel-elements, such as Au, Co, Ag, Se and Cd, and macrolevel-elements, such as Pb, Cu, Fe and Zn, were analyzed using the NAA and AAS methods. The total group of children was divided into subgroups, according to ethnic origins: Caucasian boys and girls, Hindustani children and a Surinamese rest group. The relation between element levels in hair and nutritional status, anthropometric and haematological variables were studied. Most levels corresponded reasonably with literature data. The iron in hair may be positively related to daily dietary intake of iron.
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