Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 21, 2026
Author Spotlight: Investigating Physiological Functions of Vitamin A Transporters Using HPLC-Based Vitamin A Profiling
Published on: December 27, 2024
Comparison on the status of vitamin A in 6- to 13- year-old children between 2002 and 2012 in China
Chun Yang1, Jing Chen1, Ning Guo1,2
1Key Laboratory of Trace Element Nutrition, National Health and Family Planning Commission of the people's Republic of China, Department of Trace Element Nutrition, National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Room 236, Nanwei Road No.29, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100050, China.
Insights
Vitamin A levels improved in Chinese children from 2002 to 2012, but deficiency remains a public health concern, particularly for younger school-aged children. Targeted interventions are crucial for improving overall child health.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Vitamin A deficiency is a significant public health nutrition issue in developing countries.
- Existing studies on healthy school-aged children often have limited hospital sources and sample sizes.
- This study addresses the need for comprehensive data on vitamin A status in Chinese children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the vitamin A status of healthy children aged 6 to 13 in China between 2002 and 2012.
- To analyze changes in serum retinol concentrations and the incidence of vitamin A deficiency and marginal deficiency.
- To identify differences in vitamin A status based on age groups, urban/rural areas, and gender.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the China National Nutrition and Health Survey (CHNNS) for 2002 and 2010-2013.
- Measured serum retinol concentrations in 6- to 13-year-old children using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
- Stratified analysis by age (6-9 and 10-13 years), urban/rural areas, and gender.
Main Results:
- Overall vitamin A levels significantly increased from 2002 to 2012 (p < 0.0001).
- The incidence of vitamin A deficiency in urban children increased significantly in 2012 (p < 0.0001).
- Incidence of marginal vitamin A deficiency decreased significantly in 2012 (p < 0.0001), especially in older children.
Conclusions:
- Vitamin A nutritional status in Chinese children significantly improved between 2002 and 2012.
- Vitamin A deficiency persists as a moderate public health problem, particularly among younger school-aged children.
- Continued efforts to control vitamin A deficiency are essential for promoting child health in China.
Background:
Vitamin A deficiency is recognized as a major public-health nutrition issue in the developing countries. Limited hospital sources and sample sizes are available in most of the existing studies associated with healthy school-age children. The aim of this study was to compare vitamin A status of 6- to 13-year-old healthy children in China between 2002 and 2012.
Methods:
According to China National Nutrition and Health Survey 2002 (CHNNS2002) and CHNNS2010-2013, we choose 6- to 13-year-old children as the research object. We measure the serum retinol concentrations of the children using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The children were divided into two groups: 6- to 9-year-old and 10- to 13-year-old. The areas were divided into urban and rural area.
Results:
Total number of the children (6- to 13-year old) was 8170 in 2002 survey, and it was 6016 in 2012 survey. In 2012, the vitamin A level of the children was higher than that in 2002 (t = 39.26, p = 0.000). The level of vitamin A in 10- to 13-year-old group was higher than that in 6- to 9-year-old group across areas and genders between 2002 and 2012. There was no difference on the incidence of vitamin A deficiency in all the children between 2002 and 2012, but in 2012 the incidence of vitamin A deficiency in the urban children was higher than that in 2002 (x (2) = 45.456,p = 0.000). The incidence of vitamin A deficiency in 10- to 13-year-old group was lower than that in 10- to 13-year-old group across areas and genders between 2002 and 2012. In 2012, the incidence of marginal vitamin A deficiency in the children was lower than that in 2002 (x (2) = 861.604, p = 0.000). Similar phenomena were also found in across area groups. The incidence of marginal vitamin A deficiency in 10- to 13-year-old group was lower than that in 6- to 9-year-old group across areas and genders between 2002 and 2012. There was no difference in vitamin A status of the children across the area, gender and age groups between 2002 and 2012.
Conclusion:
Vitamin A nutritional status of the children in 2012 has been significantly improved compared with that in 2002. However, vitamin A deficiency was still a moderate public health problem in Chinese children, especially in younger school-age children. Consequently, controlling the incidence of vitamin a deficiency is imperative for promoting Chinese children's health.
