Vitamin A and vitamin E statuses of preschool children of socioeconomically disadvantaged families living in the midwestern United States.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the vitamin A and vitamin E statuses of socioeconomically disadvantaged preschool American children.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of preschool children from socioeconomically disadvantaged families.


METHODS
Central Iowa, USA.


METHODS
A group of 77 apparently healthy children was studied with the following characteristics: 5 mo-6 y; 37 males, 40 females, 56 non-Hispanic Caucasians, 3 Hispanics, 18 Afro-Americans.


METHODS
Modified relative dose response (MRDR) test for vitamin A status assessment; serum retinol, alpha-tocopherol, cholesterol, and carotenoids; weight for age.


RESULTS
Although the mean weight for age was the 53rd percentile of the NCHS standard, a significant number of children (P = 0.006, chi(2)) were either markedly underweight or overweight. Ratios of 3,4-didehydroretinol to retinol (DR/R) were > 0.030, in 32% of the children. Mean serum retinol, alpha-tocopherol and cholesterol (+/- s.d.) were 1.09 +/- 0.23 microM/L, 16.8 +/- 6.3 microM/L and 4.01 +/- 0.8 microM/L. Three children (3.9%) showed a serum retinol value < 0.7 microM/L. One child with a serum retinol value < 0.7 microM/L and one additional child showed a ratio of alpha-tocopherol to cholesterol < 1.44 mumol/mmol. The mean alpha-tocopherol to cholesterol ratio for the group (4.31 +/- 1.71 mumol/mmol), however, was satisfactory. The only significant (P < or = 0.05) age-related changes were an increase in the serum cholesterol (P = 0.005) and decrease in the alpha-tocopherol to cholesterol ratio (P < 0.005) between the 0-2 y and the 2-4 y groups. Serum cholesterol (P = 0.0165, two-tailed) and lycopene (P = 0.004) concentrations of Afro-Americans were significantly higher than those of Caucasians. Median serum concentrations of alpha-carotene and beta-carotene were lower and, of lycopene higher than those found in children studied in a national survey. Serum carotenoid concentrations generally increased with age.


CONCLUSIONS
Larger percentages of underweight and overweight children and a significant degree (32%) of inadequate vitamin A status were found in this group of socioeconomically disadvantaged children. Afro-Americans showed higher serum cholesterol and lycopene concentrations than did Caucasians, but otherwise were nutritionally similar. Age-related changes were small. Of nutritional parameters considered, the vitamin A status of socioeconomically disadvantaged segments of our population clearly needs attention.
Spannaus-Martin
D J
DJ
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Iowa State University, Ames 50011, USA.
Cook
L R
LR
Tanumihardjo
S A
SA
Duitsman
P K
PK
Olson
J A
JA
D044383:Black People; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007484:Iowa; D008297:Male; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011203:Poverty; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American
D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E