title: Vitamin A status of populations in three West African countries.
abstract: The results of food consumption surveys, epidemiological surveys (clinical and biochemical) undertaken in three sub-sahelian countries have established: - the existence of xerophthalmia in Upper Volta - a transitory vitamin A deficiency during the dry season in South Mali, without serious clinical signs - a good vitamin A status in Casamance, in South Senegal. A combined biochemical indicator which takes account of plasma carotenoids and vitamin A is recommended to assess the importance of vitamin A deficiency in a population.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002050:Burkina Faso; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008302:Mali; D008403:Mass Screening; D011247:Pregnancy; D012621:Seasons; D012675:Senegal; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014985:Xerophthalmia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids