Related Experiment Videos
Serum vitamin A distribution curve for children aged 2-6 y known to have adequate vitamin A status: a reference
H Flores1, M N Azevedo, F A Campos
1Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
Insights
Supplementing vitamin A improved vitamin A status in Brazilian children. Post-supplementation, their vitamin A levels showed a normal distribution, aiding future health assessments.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition and Public Health
- Biochemistry
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Vitamin A deficiency is a significant public health concern, particularly in underprivileged populations.
- Assessing vitamin A status is crucial for effective public health interventions.
- The relative-dose-response (RDR) test is a common method for evaluating vitamin A nutritional status.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of vitamin A supplementation on serum vitamin A levels in Brazilian children.
- To compare the frequency distribution of vitamin A status before and after supplementation.
- To establish a reference distribution curve for vitamin A status in this population.
Main Methods:
- Serum vitamin A levels were measured in 544 Brazilian children before and after supplementation with 60.6 mg of vitamin A.
- A subgroup of children underwent the relative-dose-response (RDR) test to assess initial vitamin A status.
- Frequency-distribution curves of serum vitamin A levels were analyzed and compared.
Main Results:
- Initial RDR tests showed different distribution curves for children with adequate (negative RDR) versus inadequate (positive RDR) vitamin A status.
- After vitamin A supplementation, these differences disappeared.
- The post-supplementation distribution curve approached a normal distribution with a mean of 1.78 ± 0.49 µmol/L.
Conclusions:
- Vitamin A supplementation effectively improved vitamin A status in this underprivileged child population.
- The post-supplementation serum vitamin A distribution curve can serve as a valuable reference.
- This reference curve can aid in the diagnosis, surveillance, and program evaluation of vitamin A status.
Abstract:
Serum vitamin A was determined before and 30-45 d after the administration of 60.6 mg (212 mumol) vitamin A to 544 Brazilian children residing in slum areas of Recife. The frequency-distribution curves were compared in a subgroup of children whose vitamin A status was assessed initially by the relative-dose-response (RDR) test. The curves of children with negative (adequate status) and positive (inadequate status) RDR tests were different. The difference disappeared after supplementation. The shape of the distribution curve after supplementation was close to normal with a mean, median, and 95% confidence interval of 1.78 +/- 0.49, 1.68, and 1.02-2.90 mumol/L, respectively. The postsupplementation curve derived from this underprivileged child population may serve as a reference for diagnostic, surveillance, and program-evaluation purposes.