Relationship of serum carotenoids and retinol with anaemia among pre-school children in the northern mountainous region of Vietnam.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the relationship between serum carotenoids, retinol and anaemia among pre-school children.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted in two groups: anaemic and non-anaemic. Serum levels of retinol, α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin were measured in the study subjects.


METHODS
Six rural communes of Dinh Hoa, a rural and mountainous district in Thai Nguyen Province, in the northern mountainous region of Vietnam.


METHODS
A total of 682 pre-school children, aged 12-72 months, were recruited.


RESULTS
Geometric mean serum concentrations of carotenoids (μmol/l) were 0·056 for α-carotene, 0·161 for β-carotene, 0·145 for β-cryptoxanthin, 0·078 for lycopene, 0·388 for lutein and 0·075 for zeaxanthin. The mean levels of Hb and serum retinol were 108·8 g/l and 1·02 μmol/l, respectively. The prevalence of anaemia and vitamin A deficiency was 53·7 % and 7·8 %, respectively. After adjusting for sex and stunting, serum retinol concentrations (μmol/l; OR = 2·06, 95 % CI 1·10, 3·86, P = 0·024) and total provitamin A carotenoids (μmol/l; OR = 1·52, 95 % CI 1·01, 2·28, P = 0·046) were independently associated with anaemia, but non-provitamin A carotenoids (μmol/l; OR = 0·93, 95 % CI 0·63, 1·37, P = 0·710) were not associated with anaemia.


CONCLUSIONS
Among pre-school children in the northern mountainous region of Vietnam, the prevalences of vitamin A deficiency and anaemia are high, and serum retinol and provitamin A carotenoids are independently associated with anaemia. Further studies are needed to determine if increased consumption of provitamin A carotenoids will reduce anaemia among pre-school children.
Khan
Nguyen Cong
NC
Vietnam Food Safety Administration, 138A Giang Vo, Badinh, Hanoi, Vietnam. nguyencongkhan@vfa.gov.vn
Huan
Phan Van
PV
Nhien
Nguyen Van
NV
Tuyen
Le Danh
le D
de Pee
Saskia
S
Semba
Richard D
RD
D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology
D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids