Nathanail L, Powers H J
University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Ann Trop Paediatr. 1992;12(1):67-73. doi: 10.1080/02724936.1992.11747548.
A pilot study was conducted to examine the vitamin A status of Gambian pre-school children by conventional biochemical means and to evaluate the use of conjunctival impression cytology (CIC) in the detection of subclinical vitamin A deficiency. Children were examined on three occasions to coincide with periods of low and high carotene intakes. Plasma retinol and beta-carotene showed highly significant seasonal changes that reflected the seasonal fluctuations in dietary vitamin A. A high prevalence of low plasma retinol levels suggested that vitamin A deficiency may be a public health problem in this community. Underlying infection and vitamin A instability may have contributed to the low plasma retinol levels and given an overestimate of the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency. Seasonal changes in conjunctival impression cytology were not significant. Abnormal CIC results showed no clear association with plasma beta-carotene or retinol.
开展了一项试点研究，通过传统生化方法检测冈比亚学龄前儿童的维生素A状况，并评估结膜印迹细胞学检查（CIC）在亚临床维生素A缺乏症检测中的应用。在三个不同时间对儿童进行检查，以对应胡萝卜素摄入量低和高的时期。血浆视黄醇和β-胡萝卜素呈现出高度显著的季节性变化，反映了膳食维生素A的季节性波动。血浆视黄醇水平低的患病率很高，表明维生素A缺乏可能是该社区的一个公共卫生问题。潜在感染和维生素A的不稳定性可能导致了血浆视黄醇水平低，并高估了维生素A缺乏症的患病率。结膜印迹细胞学检查的季节性变化不显著。CIC结果异常与血浆β-胡萝卜素或视黄醇无明显关联。
