The vitamin A status of Zambian children in a community of vitamin A supplementation and sugar fortification strategies as measured by the modified relative dose response (MRDR) test.
The main objective of the study was to determine the vitamin A status of Zambian children less than five years of age in a community where strategies of vitamin A supplementation and consumption of vitamin A fortified sugar have been introduced. In a cross-sectional study, a total of 537 children were enrolled. Their vitamin A status was measured using the modified relative dose response (MRDR) test. Their vitamin A status was compared to the status measured using a similar method in 1996, before vitamin A supplementation through capsule distribution and fortification of sugar was implemented as strategies to reduce vitamin A deficiency in the country. Results showed that the vitamin A status of children improved markedly as a result of these strategies.
Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ndola Zambia. kafwembe@zamnet.zm
Emmanuel M
EM
Kafwembe
James
J
Chipipa
Eric
E
Njunju
Roma
R
Chilengi
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood / Q000469:parasitology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015024:Zambia
D019422:Dietary Sucrose; C024366:vitamin A2; D014801:Vitamin A