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Low vitamine A and zinc concentrations in Mexican-American migrant children with growth retardation
Insights
Nutritional deficiencies in Mexican-American preschoolers were assessed. Many children showed low vitamin A and zinc levels, indicating a need for further research into growth retardation and nutrient status.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Micronutrient Status
- Growth Assessment
Background:
- Undertaken nutritional evaluations on 102 Mexican-American preschool children.
- Children were identified as below the 3rd percentile for height, weight, or head circumference.
- Assessed micronutrient status in relation to growth parameters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the nutritional status of Mexican-American preschool children.
- To investigate potential links between growth retardation and vitamin A and zinc levels.
- To identify prevalence of deficiencies in this population.
Main Methods:
- Nutritional evaluations performed on 102 children.
- Measured serum vitamin A, hair zinc, and plasma zinc concentrations.
- Analyzed data in relation to height, weight, and head circumference percentiles.
Main Results:
- 35% of children had low serum vitamin A concentrations.
- 29% had low hair zinc and 37% had low plasma zinc concentrations.
- No correlation found between height percentiles and plasma zinc, hair zinc, or serum vitamin A.
Conclusions:
- Significant prevalence of low vitamin A and zinc observed in growth-retarded Mexican-American preschoolers.
- Further studies are required to establish a definitive relationship between growth retardation and zinc/vitamin A status.
- Highlights potential nutritional concerns in this specific demographic group.
Abstract:
Nutritional evaluations were undertaken on 102 Mexican-American preschool children who were below the 3rd percentile for height, weight, or head circumference. Serum vitamin A concentrations were low in 36 of 102 children (35%). Hair zinc concentrations were low in 28 of 96 children (29%) and plasma zinc concentrations were low in 35 of 94 children (37%). Children with only low height had a mean hair zinc level of 87.5 microgram/g, whereas those with only low weight had a mean level of 108.6 microgram/g and those with only low head circumference had a mean level of 100.1 microgram/g. There was no correlation of height percentiles with plasma zinc, hair zinc, or serum vitamin A. However, further studies are needed to determine if there is a relationship between growth retardation and zinc and/or vitamin A status in this population.