Effect of dietary vitamin A intake on plasma vitamin A concentration in preschool children of Banan district, Chongqing, China / 北京大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

Objective:To study the relationship between dietary vitamin A intake and plasma vitamin A concentration , and establish the theoretical basis for dietary intake predicting vitamin A nutritional status . Methods:By using cluster sampling , 492 children aged 2-7 years in kindergartens in Banan district of Chongqing were selected .A cross-sectional nutrition and health survey was conducted , including the clinical examination , anthropometry , laboratory test and dietary survey .Results: Among the children surveyed, 229 were boys, and 263 girls, the mean age was (4.54 ±0.87) years, height (107.50 ± 7.20) cm, and weight (18.42 ±3.41) kg, the mean value of plasma vitamin A was (1.04 ±0.30)μmol/L.The prevalence of marginal vitamin A deficiency ( MVAD) was 43.5%.No cases of severe clinical vitamin A deficiency were found (plasma vitamin A≤0.35μmol/L).Clinical examination found no conjunctiva, corneaor skin abnormalities, and no Bitot’s spots.Prevalence of the last two weeks colds were 27.4% (135/492), no diarrhea and other gastrointestinal or digestive diseases were found .The proportion of insufficient dietary vitamin A intake ( <600 μg RE/d) was as high as 50.0%.By using correlation analysis, plasma retinol concentrations were related to dietary vitamin A intake (r=0.162, P<0.001), and to dietary energy intake (r=0.107, P=0.017).After adjustment for the effects of other non-dietary factors on vitamin A deficiency , the multivariate logistic regression showed that vitamin A-rich foods of liver intake=0 g/d (OR=1.95, 95% CI1.05-3.61, P=0.034), vitamin A-rich fruits intake=0 g/d (OR =1.55, 95% CI 1.03 -2.33, P =0.034), vitamin A-rich vegetables intake<200 g/d (OR=3.47, 95%CI1.37-8.75, P=0.009) were important risk factors of vitamin A deficiency .But we had not found the correlation between the intake of meat , eggs and milk and vita-min A deficiency .Conclusion:Dietary factors may be the major risk factor of vitamin A deficiency in the three kindergartens .The dietary vitamin A intakes are significantly related to plasma retinol concentra-tions, and the vitamin A-rich foods intakes can predict the body ’ s vitamin A nutritional status .