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Vitamin A status in wheezing Saudi children

Sherein A Shalaby1, Khaild M Al-Harbi, Shereen A El-Tarhouny

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Taibah University, PO Box 30001, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. shalaby25@hotmail.com

Saudi Medical Journal
|May 11, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Wheezing infants in Saudi Arabia often have low vitamin A levels. Lower serum retinol concentrations correlate with more severe and persistent wheezing, indicating vitamin A status is linked to wheeze severity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Nutritional Biochemistry
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Wheezing is a common respiratory symptom in infants and young children.
  • Vitamin A deficiency can impact immune function and respiratory health.
  • Understanding vitamin A status in wheezing children is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine serum retinol levels in Saudi children experiencing wheezing.
  • To assess the relationship between serum retinol and the severity and course of wheezing.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective cohort study involved 400 Saudi children aged 3-36 months with wheezing.
  • Children were categorized into persistent (93) and acute (307) wheeze groups.
  • Wheeze severity was graded as mild, moderate, or severe.

Main Results:

  • Higher prevalence of deficient and marginal vitamin A was observed in persistent wheezing patients (9.7% deficient, 20.4% marginal) compared to acute wheezing patients (1.6% deficient, 8.1% marginal).
  • A significant association (p<0.05) was found between lower vitamin A concentrations and persistent wheezing.
  • Vitamin A deficiency was exclusively identified in children with severe wheezing.

Conclusions:

  • Prevalent vitamin A deficiency and marginal deficiency exist among wheezing infants in Saudi Arabia.
  • Serum vitamin A levels are significantly related to both the severity and the course of wheezing in children.
Abstract

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