Situação nutricional e alimentar de pré-escolares no semi-árido da Bahia (Brasil): II Hipovitaminose A

Abstract

A survey of 754 preschool children was undertaken in the urban areas of seven small towns of the semi-arid region of Bahia, Northeastern Brazil, to determine the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency, as well as its association with variables such as a age, family income, mother's schooling and dietary adequacy in vitamin A. Protein energy malnutrition and anemia were also studied and are reported separately. The clinical ophthalmological examination did not reveal any signs or symptoms of xerophthalmia amongst these children. In 563 children serum retinol was determined and the average value found was 20.3 micrograms/dl (SD = 10.8 micrograms/dl); the prevalence of deficient serum retinol (below 10.0 micrograms/dl) was of 15.3%. In all 7 localities studied, the prevalence of deficient retinol levels was above 5.0%, the criterion recommended by WHO for considering it a Public Health Problem. The distribution of serum retinol was similar between the sexes, but there was an age trend: the prevalence of deficient and low levels decreased with age. There was no association between deficient serum retinol and family income per capita or mother's education. Results from the 24 h food consumption survey revealed that only 8% of children had an adequate intake of vitamin A through the diet; 66% received less than 1/2 and 35% less than 1/4 of the recommended daily intake of vitamin A. Vitamin A deficiency should be considered a Public Health Problem in the region due to the high prevalence of deficient levels of serum retinol as well as the large dietary inadequacy.

Deficiencia de vitamina A e fatores associados em criancas de areas urbanas

“…With regards to age group, the homogeneous behavior of VAD prevalence in the children in this study does not confi rm a trend observed in other studies with pre-school children, in which younger children showed lower levels of serum retinol. 17,22 These children's eating habits are characterized by diets of diluted milk and high percentages of carbohydrates. These eating habits, together with early weaning and reduced consumption of food sources of carotenoids, may explain the insuffi cient retinol serum levels in children in lower age groups.…”

Prevalência da hipovitaminose A em pré-escolares no Estado de Sergipe, 1998

“…Evidence of hypovitaminosis A and xerophthalmia has been documented, especially in the northeastern region of Brazil (Dricot D'ans et al, 5 1988; Santos et al, 11 1996; INAN/MS-IMIP, 7 1998). Even so, the data available on the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in this region are sparse.…”

Níveis plasmáticos de vitamina A em crianças carentes com pneumonia na fase aguda e após recuperação

“…Other studies did not find an association between compromised nutritional status and VAD. 32 Vitamin A is involved in the pathogenesis of anemia through different mechanisms: stimulus to the growth and differentiation of erythrocyte progenitor cells, maximization of the immune response, reduction of anemia associated with infection and mobilization of hepatic iron reserves. 33 The interaction between iron and vitamin A may be one of the factors implicated in the high prevalence of anemia observed among the analyzed children (51.3%), after resolution of the infectious process, although no association was found in our study between inadequate retinol levels and hemoglobin level.…”