title: [Prevalence of iron deficiency and its association with vitamin A deficiency in preschool children].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the prevalence of iron deficiency in the population studied, as well as verifying if such deprivation is associated with vitamin A deficiency.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred seventy-nine children, > or = 24 months and < 72 months of age, with no diarrhea and/or fever at collection were studied. Vitamin A deficiency identification was carried out through serum 30-day dose-response test. Samples of peripheral blood from fasting children was obtained for hemoglobin counts, serum iron, and unsaturated iron binding capacity assays. Information about the presence of diarrhea and/or fever during the 15 days preceding the study was also obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  35.8% (64/179) of the children presented iron deficiency and 75.4% (135/179), vitamin A deficiency. 29.1% (52/179) of the children presented both iron and vitamin A deficiencies. Iron deficiency was not associated with vitamin A deficiency. A separate analysis for each hematimetric index also demonstrated no significant difference between children with or without vitamin A deficiency. Children aged 24 to 36 months presented significantly higher prevalence rates of iron deficiency (p = 0.0005) as did children with diarrhea and/or fever during the 15 days preceding the study (p = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although iron deficiency was not associated with vitamin A deficiency, high rates of both deficiencies were exhibited in a "healthy" population with low malnutrition indices. Such situations are known as "hidden hunger". Younger children presented a higher risk of iron deficiency as did children with diarrhea and/or fever during the 15 days preceding the study.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Puericultura e Pediatria, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP. isferraz@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Ivan S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Ferraz
authors.forename: Júlio C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Daneluzzi
authors.forename: Hélio
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vannucchi
authors.forename: Alceu A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Jordão
authors.forename: Rubens G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Ricco
authors.forename: Luiz A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Del Ciampo
authors.forename: Carlos E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: Alexander A D'Angio
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Engelberg
authors.forename: Luis R C M
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Bonilha
authors.forename: Viviane I C
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Custódio
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*