title: Vitamin A and anthropometric status of South African preschool children from four areas with known distinct eating patterns.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the vitamin A and anthropometric status of South African preschool children from four areas with known distinct eating patterns.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum retinol, anthropometric indicators, and dietary intake were determined for randomly selected preschool children from two rural areas, i.e. KwaZulu-Natal (n = 140) and Limpopo (n = 206); an urban area in the Northern Cape (n = 194); and an urban metropolitan area in the Western Cape (n = 207).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum retinol <20 μg/dL was prevalent in 8.2% to 13.6% children. Between 3% (urban-Northern Cape) and 44.2% (rural-Limpopo) children had received a high-dose vitamin A supplement during the preceding 6 mo. Vitamin A derived from fortified bread and/or maize meal ranged from 65 μg retinol activity equivalents (24%-31% of the Estimated Average Requirement) to 160 μg retinol activity equivalents (58%-76% Estimated Average Requirement). Fortified bread and/or maize meal contributed 57% to 59% of total vitamin A intake in rural children, and 28% to 38% in urban children. Across the four areas, stunting in children ranged from 13.9% to 40.9%; and overweight from 1.2% to 15.1%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of vitamin A deficiency was lower than national figures, and did not differ across areas despite differences in socioeconomics, dietary intake, and vitamin A supplementation coverage. Rural children benefited more from the national food fortification program in terms of vitamin A intake. Large variations in anthropometric status highlight the importance of targeting specific nutrition interventions, taking into account the double burden of overnutrition and undernutrition.
authors.affiliation: Nutritional Intervention Research Unit, Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa; Non-communicable Diseases Research Unit, Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: mieke.faber@mrc.ac.za.
authors.forename: Mieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faber
authors.affiliation: Nutritional Intervention Research Unit, Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa; Non-communicable Diseases Research Unit, Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: van Jaarsveld
authors.affiliation: Division Dietetics, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Ernie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kunneke
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
authors.forename: H Salomé
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kruger
authors.affiliation: Nutritional Intervention Research Unit, Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Serina E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Schoeman
authors.affiliation: Nutritional Intervention Research Unit, Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa; Non-communicable Diseases Research Unit, Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Martha E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: van Stuijvenberg
mesh_terms: D044383:Black People; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000378:metabolism; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D009961:Orosomucoid; D014801:Vitamin A; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Anthropometry; Children; Dietary intake; Nutritional status; South Africa; Vitamin A