title: Breast-feeding, dietary intakes and their associations with subclinical vitamin A deficiency in children in Anhui Province, China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to explore the associations between breast-feeding, dietary intakes and other related factors and subclinical vitamin A deficiency (SVAD) in children aged 0-5 years in an area in China where mild vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is found.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were from a population-based cross-sectional study with 1052 children aged 0-5 years. SVAD cases were identified by the indicator of serum retinol<or=20 microg dl(-1). Breast-feeding status, dietary intakes and other factors were collected through a pre-designed questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of SVAD in children aged 0-5 years was 6.9%. Logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratio of SVAD for breastfeeding was 3.56 (95% confidence limits (95% CL) 2.17-5.82). After adjustment for sex, age in categories, residence, mother's education, mother's occupation, vitamin A preparation supplements, rank in siblings and diarrhoea, the odds ratio for breast-feeding fell to 2.38 (95% CL 1.13-4.95). The odds ratios for breast-feeding within children aged 1 year were 5.46 (95% CL 2.07-15.03) and 4.6 (95% CL 1.72-12.82) before and after adjustment of other confounders, respectively. The odds ratios for breast-feeding did not show statistical significance within children aged 0 or 2 years. The odds ratios decreased, but remained statically significant after further adjustments for individual dietary factor or all dietary factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Breast-feeding was a risk factor of SVAD for children, especially for those aged 1 year. The differences in dietary intakes and other established risk factors could not fully explain the increased risk. This finding implies that prolonged breast-feeding alone may not ensure protection of children from VAD in an area with mild SVAD.
authors: Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Health Science Center, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidan District, 100083 Beijing, PR China.
authors: Yewu
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Fangbiao
authors: F
authors: Tao
authors: Huiping
authors: H
authors: Yin
authors: Xiaoming
authors: X
authors: Zhu
authors: Guoping
authors: G
authors: Ji
authors: Shenghua
authors: S
authors: Kong
authors: Qinhua
authors: Q
authors: Song
authors: Jianhua
authors: J
authors: Chen
authors: Chengzhi
authors: C
authors: Chu
authors: Zhu
authors: Z
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D014801:Vitamin A