Vitamin A status and nutrient intake in a rural community in southern Ghana

The present study was designed to assess the vitamin A status in a rural community (Gomoa Onyadze) in southern Ghana, to determine if there is any vitamin A deficiency in the community and also to estimate the nutrient intake of the inhabitants to see if the levels conform to the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). Results of serum vitamin A analysis indicated that out of total of 263 subjects (3-60 years) screened, 0.76% had deficient vitamin A level of < 10 micrograms/1); 11.79% had low levels of 10-20 micrograms/dl; 83.65% had adequate levels of 20-50 micrograms/dl, while 3.80% had high levels (> 50 micrograms/dl). Since the deficient group (i.e. < 10 micrograms/dl) was less than 5% of total subjects screened, it is concluded that there is no vitamin A deficiency in the community. Dietary intake measurements showed that nutrient intake in subjects with normal or abnormal levels of vitamin A are similar and are, with some exceptions (energy, vitamin-thiamine, riboflavin and niacin), acceptable when compared with the RDA.