title: Iron deficiency and anemia are associated with low retinol levels in children aged 1 to 5 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the occurrence of anemia and iron deficiency in children aged 1 to 5 years and the association of these events and retinol deficiency.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an observational analytic cross-sectional study conducted in Vitoria, ES, Brazil, between April and August of 2008, with healthy children aged 1 to 5 years (n=692) that lived in areas covered by primary healthcare services. Sociodemographic and economic conditions, dietary intake (energy, protein, iron, and vitamin A ingestion), anthropometric data (body mass index-for-age and height-for-age), and biochemical parameters (ferritin, hemoglobin, and retinol serum) were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of anemia, iron deficiency, and retinol deficiency was 15.7%, 28.1%, and 24.7%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed a higher prevalence of anemia (PR: 4.62, 95% CI: 3.36, 6.34, p<0.001) and iron deficiency (PR: 4.51, 95% CI: 3.30, 6.17, p<0.001) among children with retinol deficiency. The same results were obtained after adjusting for socioeconomic and demographic conditions, dietary intake, and anthropometric variables. There was a positive association between ferritin vs. retinol serum (r=0.597; p<0.001) and hemoglobin vs. retinol serum (r=0.770; p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anemia and iron deficiency were associated with low levels of serum retinol in children aged 1 to 5 years, and a positive correlation was verified between serum retinol and serum ferritin and hemoglobin levels. These results indicate the importance of initiatives encouraging the development of new treatments and further research regarding retinol deficiency.
authors: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors: Bárbara C A
authors: BC
authors: Saraiva
authors: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors: Michele C C
authors: MC
authors: Soares
authors: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors: Luana C dos
authors: LC
authors: Santos
authors: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors: Simone C L
authors: SC
authors: Pereira
authors: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: paulamhorta@gmail.com.
authors: Paula M
authors: PM
authors: Horta
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D014801:Vitamin A; D005293:Ferritins
keywords: Anemia ferropriva; Children; Crianças; Deficiência de ferro; Iron deficiency; Iron deficiency anemia; Vitamin A; Vitamina A