[Association between maternal and newborn vitamin A status and economic stratum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil].
BACKGROUND
Retinol was determined spectrophotometrically in the blood of 291 mothers at delivery and in the umbilical cord of the newborn. The mothers came from different socioeconomic strata in Rio de Janeiro.


METHODS
Levels of retinol were determined using spectrophotometry (Bessey et al).


RESULTS
The circulation levels of retinol were low (below 1.05 micromol/L) in 22.0% of the mothers and in 54.2% of the newborn. A close association was found between low levels in the mothers' serum and those in the children's umbilical cord (p <0.0001). There was no association between maternal vitamin A deficiency (DVA) and socioeconomic stratum, family income or level of education.


CONCLUSIONS
DVA is a distressing health problem among mothers and newborns and its diagnosis must be included in antenatal care. This reinforces the concept that intervention programs must emphasize changes in feeding practices and focus on the most vulnerable groups, of which pregnant women warrant special attention, regardless of socioeconomic stratum.
Ramalho
Rejane Andréa
RA
Grupo de Pesquisa em Vitamina A, Instituto de Nutrição Josué de Castro, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cep: 21941.590 Rio de Janeiro/RJ. aramalho@rionet.com.br
Flores
Hernando
H
Accioly
Elizabeth
E
Saunders
Cláudia
C
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009752:Nutritional Status; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
D014801:Vitamin A