[Vitamin A and D status among child participants in a food supplementation program]

Cad Saude Publica. 2015 Mar;31(3):531-42. doi: 10.1590/0102-311x00082814.
[Article in Portuguese]

Abstract

Vitamin A and D serum concentrations and risk factors for their deficiencies were investigated in children participating in a government-sponsored fortified milk program. The study used multivariate linear regression analysis with hierarchical selection of independent variables: socio-demographic conditions, children's health, food consumption, breastfeeding, fortified milk, exposure to sunlight, anthropometric measurements, and serum concentration of retinol and 25(OH)D. Vitamin A and vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency values were defined as < 1.05 µmol/L, < 0.7 µmol/L, < 30 ng/mL, and < 20 ng/mL, respectively. Vitamin A and D intake was inadequate. Prevalence rates for vitamin A and vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency were 19%, 6%, 82%, and 58%, respectively. Factors associated with low serum vitamin A were exclusive breastfeeding for less than 120 days, low maternal schooling, maternal unemployment, more consumers of fortified milk in the family, and low serum vitamin D. Factors associated with vitamin D deficiency were low exposure to sunlight and low serum vitamin A. Nutritional education is needed to improve children's nutritional status.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Female
  • Food, Fortified*
  • Health Status
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Milk
  • Nutritional Status*
  • Prevalence
  • Program Evaluation
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Sunlight
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Vitamin A / blood*
  • Vitamin A Deficiency / blood
  • Vitamin A Deficiency / epidemiology*
  • Vitamin D / blood*
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / blood
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / epidemiology*

Substances

  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin D