title: Vitamin A status and nutritional intake of carotenoids of preschool children in Ijaye Orile community in Nigeria.
abstract: This study was carried out to determine the vitamin A status and nutritional intake of carotenoids of 213 children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years in a rural community in Nigeria. There were 109 males and 104 females. A total of 57 (26.8 per cent) children were deficient in serum retinol levels (< 10 microg/dl) while 102 (47.9 per cent) had low levels (10-19 microg/dl). The highest prevalence of serum retinol deficiency was in the 6-12 months age group, most of whom were breastfeeding and there was poor correlation between duration of breastfeeding and serum retinol levels. The prevalence of night-blindness was 1.5 per cent; however, none of the children had xerophthalmia. Chronically malnourished children had lower mean serum retinol levels than well nourished children. There was a high consumption of carotenoid-containing food, but despite this there was a high prevalence of vitamin A deficiency. We therefore suggest that measures to combat vitamin A deficiency should include vitamin A supplementation on a short-term basis. On a long-term basis parents should be educated on the importance of the consumption of locally available sources of provitamin A and pre-formed vitamin A rich foods, and the avoidance of overcooking. Parents should also be encouraged to grow more beta-carotene containing foods.
authors.affiliation: University College Hospital, Department of Paediatrics, Ibadan, Nigeria. muyiwaoso@hotmail.com
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Oso
authors.forename: P O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Abiodun
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Omotade
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oyewole
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids