Lipid-soluble antioxidants status and some of its socio-economic determinants among pregnant Ethiopians at the third trimester.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the serum levels of three lipid-soluble antioxidants (retinol, beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol) in pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic (ANC) in Gondar, Ethiopia.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study involving laboratory determination of serum levels of retinol, alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene using high-performance liquid chromatography and questionnaire-based assessment of socio-economic status.


METHODS
ANC of a university teaching hospital.


METHODS
Three hundred and twenty-two healthy pregnant women in their third trimester, who attended the ANC.


RESULTS
Mean serum levels of retinol, alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene were found to be 1.23+/-0.5, 25.5+/-0.9 and 0.21+/-0.09 micromol l(-1), respectively. The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (<1.05 micromol l(-1)) among pregnant women was 38.5%. Women having low retinol (vitamin A) levels were highly likely to live in earth-floored and mud-walled houses, and less likely to own a house and to have a latrine.


CONCLUSIONS
The study shows that serum levels of lipid-soluble antioxidants were low among ANC attendees in northern Ethiopia. It also indicates that some socio-economic factors (such as poor housing standard) are associated with vitamin A deficiency.
Wondmikun
Yared
Y
Department of Physiology, Gondar College of Medical Sciences, University of Gondar, PO Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia. ywondmikun@yahoo.com
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000097:blood*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000097:blood*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood
D000975:Antioxidants; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol