title: The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in 1994 on an atoll of the Marshall Islands and its relationship to locally grown food.
abstract: In an area of the world not previously studied for the presence of nutritional deficiencies, this study conducted in 1994, examined the prevalence of Vitamin A deficiency on a representative atoll of the Marshall Islands. All children ages three through ten living on Mili atoll were surveyed. The study was conducted house-to-house with all 38 subjects on the atoll voluntarily enrolling in the study. Vitamin A status was assessed by conjunctival impression cytology with transfer ([CT), clinical ophthalmic signs, and nutritional survey in all children ages three through ten living on Mili atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. Forty-seven percent had xerophthannia (5% with XN, 39% with XN + XIA, and 3% with XN + XIB). More than three-quarters (78%) were ICT abnormal, indicating 31% of the population had mild sub-clinical vitamin A deficiency. Eighty-six percent of the children had not received the U.S. recommended daily allowance of vitamin A in the previous week. Oiven the World Health Organization's published guidelines that anything greater than a 1% prevalence, Vitamin A deficiency on Mili atoll may be classified as a significant public health problem.
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, School of Medicine, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Box 356340, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dickson
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Hunt
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008849:Micronesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D015995:Prevalence; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*