Vitamin A status of term and preterm infants delivered at Harare Central Hospital and fed exclusively on breast milk.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the vitamin A status of pregnant mothers, lactating mothers, preterm and term infants who were being fed exclusively on breast milk.


METHODS
Systematic/cross sectional.


METHODS
Vitamin A research laboratory, animal science research laboratory, University of Zimbabwe, and Harare Central Hospital.


METHODS
105 pregnant mothers attending the antenatal clinic at Harare Central Hospital for a routine check up were recruited for the study. Two groups of infants: those born at term and those with gestational age < or = 36 weeks.


METHODS
Serum retinol levels of infants/mothers pairs. Breast milk retinol levels.


RESULTS
The serum retinol levels for the infants were similar irrespective of age with a mean of 26.15 +/- 9.78 microg/dl. There was no statistically significant difference. The mean serum retinol levels of infants and mothers were significantly different, (p = 0.001). With mother/infant ratio of serum retinol concentration of 1.7:1. Maternal serum retinol levels correlated positively with infant serum retinol levels, r = 0.728. Forty four percent of the preterm and 17% of the term infants had serum retinol levels < 20 microg/dl, indicating deficiency, 2 and only 20% of the infants had retinol levels > 40 microg/dl.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of infants might be at risk of vitamin A deficiency. Increased intake of vitamin A in pregnant women is necessary, and direct vitamin A supplementation of infants should be considered.
Chinyanga
E A
EA
Institute of Food, Nutrition and Family Science, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Chidede
O
O
Choga
T
T
Machisvo
A
A
Malaba
L
L
Sibanda
E N
EN
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human; D011247:Pregnancy; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology
D014801:Vitamin A