[Nutritional status of vitamin A in mother/newborn pairs from 2 hospital nurseries in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil].

The aim of the present study was to assess maternal and newborn (umbilical blood) vitamin status in 220 mothers/newborns at birth from two public health centers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The proportion of low retinol levels (cut-off point 1.05 mumol/L) in the umbilical cord of newborns (55.4%) was greater than found in their mothers (23.6%). A highly significant correlation (X2 = 14.2; p < 0.0001) was found between the levels of retinol of mothers and newborns. The overall prevalence of low levels of retinol in the mother was 23.6% whereas that of newborns was 55.4%. Umbilical cord mean concentration less than 1.05 mumol/L was significantly lower (2.49 +/- 1.08 mumol/L) in mother with vitamin A deficiency (3.21 +/- 0.97 mumol/L; p < 0.0001). Low birth weight was associated with vitamin A deficiency (X2 = 6.86; p < 0.01). These data reinforce the need for close pre-natal attention in vitamin A status.