title: [Vitamin A deficiency in preschool children of Recife, Northeast of Brazil].
abstract: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the extent of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) among preschool children in the city of Recife, Northeast Brazil. The sample comprised 344 children of both sexes, 24 to 60 months old, in 18 public day care centres in the city of Recife, in 2007. The nutritional status of vitamin A was assessed by biochemical (serum retinol) and dietetic (vitamin A rich-food consumption) indicators and the pondo-stature status through anthropometric indicators weight-for-age, height-for-age and weight-for-height. The prevalence of hyporetinolemia (< 0.70 micromol/L) was 7.7% (IC 95% 4.88 - 11.81), which characterizes the VAD as a light-type public health problem, according to World Health Organization criteria. On the other hand, 29.6% (IC 95% 24.22 - 35.63) of children had acceptable or marginal levels (0.70 to 1.04 micromol/L) of retinol. Regarding the vitamin A rich-food intake, values below the EAR (Estimated Average Requirement) - 210 microg/ day for children of 1 to 3 years old and 275 microg/day for children of 4 to 8 years old - were 8.1% and 21.3% respectively. The prevalence of anthropometrical deficits (< -2 scores -Z) in preschool children were 2.5% for the indicator weight-for-age, 8.6% for height-for-age and 1.5% for weight-for-height. The research findings point out to the importance of institutionalization for the appropriate nutritional status of children and maintenance of adequate reserves of vitamin A. However, more studies are needed focusing on non-institutionalized preschool, or children living outside the privileged environment of public day care centres.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Faculdade de Saúde Pública Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Brasil.
authors.forename: Maria Magdala Sales de
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.forename: Poliana Coelho
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.forename: Alcides da Silva
authors.initials: Ada S
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fisberg
authors.forename: Regina Mara
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Fisberg
authors.forename: Ilma Kruze Grande de
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Arruda
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A