Extent of vitamin A deficiency among rural pregnant women in Bangladesh

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) among pregnant women in rural Bangladesh, and examine the relationship between various factors and vitamin A status. Setting: Community Nutrition Promoter (CNP) centres in Kapasia sub-district of Gazipur district, Bangladesh. Design: A cross-sectional study. Subjects and methods: Two hundred women, aged 18-39 years, in their second or third trimester of pregnancy were selected from seventeen CNP centres in four unions of Kapasia sub-district where they usually visit for antenatal care. Various socio-economic, personal and pregnancy-related information, dietary intake of vitamin A and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) data were collected. Serum retinol (vitamin A) concentration was determined. Results: More than half (51 %) of the pregnant women had low vitamin A status (serum retinol ,1?05 mmol/l) with 18?5 % having VAD (serum retinol ,0?70 mmol/l). Fifty-three per cent of the women's vitamin A intake was less than the recommended dietary allowance. By multiple regression analysis, MUAC, per-capita expenditure on food and wealth index were found to have significant independent positive relationship with serum retinol concentration, while gestational age of the pregnant women had a negative relationship. The overall F-ratio (10?3) was highly significant (P 5 0?0001), the adjusted R 2 was 0?18 (multiple R 5 0?45).

Effect of maternal vitamin A deficiency during pregnancy on neonatal kidney size

“…The frequency of mothers with retinol intake below the recommended intake (55 % ) is similar to that reported from other developing countries (53 % ) [10] . Table 2 Comparisons between VAD and VAS mothers regarding the dimensions of neonatal kidney size.…”

Dietary diversity score is a useful indicator of vitamin A status of adult women in Northern Kenya

“…Covariates included wealth, age, acute phase reaction, and hemoglobin, each of which has been shown to have a significant relationship with serum retinol in previous studies (for age, Fujita et al, 2004;Stephensen and Gildengorin, 2000; for wealth, Lee et al, 2008;for CRP, Rosales et al, 1996;Ford et al, 2003;and for hemoglobin, Ettyang et al, 2003). We also included dietary vitamin A intake and high-dose oral vitamin A supplementation.…”

Vitamin A status in pregnant women in Iran in 2001 and its relationship with province and gestational age

“…Vitamin A restriction does not immediately lead to deficiency symptoms, those would emerge slowly since it takes 1 to 2 years for healthy adults, shorter for children, to empty liver stores (5). The major cause of vitamin A deficiency is insufficient intake, which is related to socio-cultural and socioeconomic factors such as poverty, low access to vitamin A fortified food (6, 7), low education, ethnicity, dietary practices and beliefs, and climate conditions (8). A low vitamin A status in pregnant women can also be attributed to multiple pregnancies and minimal antenatal care (9).…”