title: Vitamin A and beta carotene levels in constitutional delay of growth and puberty.
abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the vitamin A (vit A) status and beta carotene levels of children with constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP). Serum vit A and beta-carotene levels of 26 children with CDGP were measured. 20 age-matched healthy children with normal pubertal development served as controls. Except for the height SDS, which was significantly lower in the CDGP group (p < 0.05), no significant differences were found between chronological ages, weight for height indices and beta-carotene levels of the two groups (p > 0.05). Although serum vit A levels of children in both groups were within normal limits according to WHO criteria, serum vit A levels were significantly lower in the CDGP group than in controls (44.13 +/- 12.25 and 59.60 +/- 19.75 micrograms/dl respectively, p < 0.05). It was concluded that vit A deficiency may play a role in CDGP in developing countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Dokuz Eylül, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Büyükgebiz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Böber
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Büyükgebiz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011628:Puberty, Delayed / Q000097:blood*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000150:complications; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A