title: Limitations in vitamin A supplementation to optimise serum retinol in preschool children from two central Java districts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vitamin A deficiency is particularly common among children younger than 5 years. In 2011, a study conducted in West Java revealed that the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in children aged 6-11 months, 12-23 months, and 24-59 months was 18.2%, 15.2%, and 9.9%, respectively. The present study analysed the differences in vitamin A intake and serum retinol in all the preschool children from Grobogan and Kudus, Central Java.
  
  
  METHODS
  The baseline data of vitamin A efficacy were analysed. A total of 143 children aged 1-3 years participants (n=71 from Kudus and n=71 from Grobogan) were recruited and we used independent t-tests to analyse the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the study population, 50.7% and 48.6% were boys and 49.3% and 51.4% were girls from Kudus and Grobogan, respectively. The average intake of energy, carbohydrates, protein, fat, and vitamin A was 698±440 (Kcal), 89±60 (g), 25.9±18.5 (g), 26.1±18.5 (g), and 435.3±554.0 (μg) in Kudus and 868±493 (Kcal), 109±67 (g), 30.9±20.1 (g), 35.1±23.1 (g), and 538.1±622.9 (μg) in Grobogan, respectively. The average serum retinol in Kudus and Grobogan were 26.7±6.4 (μg/dL) and 29.6±5.9 (μg/dL), respectively. Significant differences in energy and fat intake (p<0.05) were also observed between the Kudus and Grobogan districts; however, no differences in protein, carbohydrates, and vitamin A intake (p>=0.05) were noted. A significant difference in serum retinol was observed between these two districts (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An increase in vitamin A intake through various foods should improve the serum retinol in preschool children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition Faculty of Health Sciences, Esa Unggul University, Indonesia. Email: erry.yudhya@esaunggul.ac.id.
authors.forename: Erry Yudhya
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Mulyani
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition Faculty of Health Sciences, Esa Unggul University, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Mury
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuswari
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Health Research and Development, Ministry of Health, Indonesia.
authors.lastname: Sudikno
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Health Research and Development, Ministry of Health, Indonesia.
authors.lastname: Sandjaja
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Health Research and Development, Ministry of Health, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Fitrah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ernawati
mesh_terms: D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D008297:Male; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A