title: Vitamin A and E status of some rural populations in the north of Cameroon.
abstract: The vitamin A and E status was evaluated in 279 volunteer subjects, 3 to 75 years old (131 males and 148 females) from 8 villages in the north of Cameroon by fluorimetric methods. The results obtained showed that: the mean serum vitamin A level was 16.6 +/- 0.7 microgram % (ranging from 2.1 to 69.3 micrograms %) and vitamin E, 499.9 +/- 19.3 micrograms % (ranging from 222.7 to 1893.1 micrograms %); the percentage deficiency of vitamin A among the subjects was 71.7% and that of vitamin E was 66% (vitamin A levels < 20 micrograms/100 ml) vitamin E levels < 500 micrograms/100 ml; children of ages ranging from 3 to 15 years, constituted about 50% of the subjects and were significantly deficient in vitamin A (P < 0.001). Significant correlation was observed between the serum levels of vitamin A and E (P < 0.001). The results from this study revealed that vitamin A and E deficiencies vary from one village to another and constitute one of the major public health problems in the area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science-University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gouado
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Mbiapo
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Moundipa
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Teugwa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E