The influence of vitamin A status on iron-deficiency anaemia in anaemic adolescent schoolgirls in Myanmar

Abstract

Objective: The present study was conducted to investigate reasons for the high prevalence of anaemia among adolescent schoolgirls and to elucidate the role of vitamin A in contributing to Fe-deficiency anaemia (IDA). Design: Among 1269 schoolgirls who were previously screened for anaemia (Hb , 120 g/l), 391 anaemic girls were further assessed for Fe, vitamin A and subclinical inflammation status. Fe and vitamin A indicators were corrected for inflammation and were compared in the Fe-deficient and non-deficient groups as well as between those with and without inflammation. Logistic regression was done to determine whether vitamin A status and subclinical inflammation were risk factors for Fe deficiency. The differences in Fe status among tertiles of vitamin A concentrations were assessed using ANOVA. Setting: Myanmar. Subjects: Adolescent schoolgirls (n 391). Results: One-third of the anaemia (30?4 %) was IDA. Prevalence of low vitamin A status (serum retinol ,1?05 mmol/l) was 31?5 %. Fe and vitamin A status were significantly different between the IDA and non-IDA groups and also based on their inflammation status. Logistic regression showed that low vitamin A status was a significant predictor for being Fe deficient (OR 5 1?81; 95 % CI

Does moderate iron deficiency protect against childhood illness? A test of the optimal iron hypothesis in Tanzania

“…For example, in 6‐ to 8‐year‐old Nepali schoolchildren, no relationship was found between sTfR and CRP, but there was a positive, significant relationship between sTfR and another acute‐phase protein, alpha‐1‐acid glycoprotein (AGP) (Schulze et al, ). No CRP/IDA relationship was found among adolescent schoolgirls in Myanmar, although the authors noted that CRP was overwhelmingly quite low (Htet et al, ), which may indicate the environment was not particularly pathogenic.…”

Folate and vitamin B12status and dietary intake of anaemic adolescent schoolgirls in the delta region of Myanmar

“…status among these reproductive age study participants (9) . Anaemia is a significant public health problem in Myanmar (21) .…”

“…However, little or no attempt has been made to investigate the underlying causes for the high prevalence of anaemia in the country. Folate is one of the key nutrients for haemopoiesis, and the poor folate status among the population may contribute to the high prevalence of anaemia in the country among other factors including infection, genetic Hb disorders and deficiencies of iron, vitamin A, zinc and riboflavin (8,9,(22)(23)(24) . In addition, both folate deficiency and iron depletion have shown to be associated with the severity of anaemia (25,26) , suggesting that the suboptimal intake of both nutrients needs to be addressed concomitantly.…”

Factors influencing micronutrient bioavailability in biofortified crops

“…88 In addition, it was shown that vitamin A status could affect the synthesis or catabolism of proteins involved in hepatic iron storage and mobilization. 89,90 In a recent study by Htet et al, 91 the authors demonstrated the interdependence of vitamin A and iron status in contributing to anemia and reported that better iron status was associated with a higher serum retinol concentration only in the ID group. They concluded that an improvement in VAD was required to reduce ID.…”