[Retinolemia, vitamin A intake, and blood pressure in the elderly].
The objective of this study was to evaluate the retinolemia and consumption of vitamin A rich foods and their association with blood pressure levels in the elderly. This is a cross-sectional study, with a systematic sample of 297 elderly subjects enrolled at the Family Health Program of Camaragibe, Pernambuco, between November/December of 2003. Vitamin A status was assessed by retinolemia (HPLC) and by the consumption of vitamin A rich foods (food frequency questionnaire). Blood pressure levels were classified according to the V Brazilian Guidelines on Hypertension. A prevalence of inadequate retinolemia (< 1.05 micromol/L) of 26.3% (CI95% 21.4-31.9) was found. The frequency of preformed vitamin A intake (> 3x/week) was lower (p = 0.000) than the provitamin A intake. The prevalence of systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) was 58.6% (CI95% 52.7-64.3). Isolated systolic hypertension was more prevalent among subjects. There was no correlation between retinolemia and vitamin A rich-food intake (p > 0.05). In addition, there was no association between blood pressure levels and vitamin A rich-food intake (p > 0.05). However, retinolemia in the elderly classified in stage 1 of SAH was higher (p = 0.02) than in the elderly with great/normal blood pressure. The findings suggest a vulnerability of these subjects to hypovitaminosis A and SAH. Nevertheless, the role of vitamin A in the endothelial function modulation and inflammatory responses associated to SAH should be addressed in future studies.
Albuquerque
Mellina Neyla de Lima
MN
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Centro de Ciências da Saúde-UFPE, Recife-PE, Brasil.
Diniz
Alcides da Silva
Ada S
Arruda
Ilma Kruze Grande de
IK
D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
D014801:Vitamin A