Serum retinol distributions in residents of the United States: third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994.
BACKGROUND
Inadequate vitamin A status has been a potential nutritional problem for some segments of the US population, particularly children and the poor.


OBJECTIVE
We evaluated serum retinol concentration by using population-representative data from 16058 participants aged 4 to >/=90 y in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994.


METHODS
We used multivariate regression to examine the simultaneous associations of sociodemographic, biologic, and behavioral factors with serum retinol concentration.


RESULTS
In children, serum retinol concentrations were greater with greater age, body mass index, serum lipids, and the use of supplements containing vitamin A. In adults, male sex, serum lipids, alcohol consumption, and age were positively associated with serum retinol concentration in most racial/ethnic strata. Household income was not associated with serum retinol concentration in children; associations were inconsistent in adults. The prevalence of serum retinol <0.70 micromol/L was very low in all strata; the prevalence of serum retinol <1.05 micromol/L was 16.7-33.9% in children aged 4-8 y and 3.6-14.2% in children aged 9-13 y, depending on sex and racial/ethnic group. The prevalence of serum retinol<1.05 micromol/L was higher in non-Hispanic black and Mexican American children than in non-Hispanic white children; these differences remained significant (P < 0.0001) after covariates were controlled for. Among adults, nonwhite women were significantly (P < 0.0001) more likely than white women to have serum retinol <1.05 micromol/L after covariates were controlled for.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinically low serum retinol concentration is uncommon in US residents aged > or = 4 y, although racial/ethnic and socioeconomic differences in serum retinol concentration still exist.
Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. ckb2@cdc.gov
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Ballew
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Bowman
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Sowell
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Gillespie
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D014801:Vitamin A