Azevedo Maria Magdala Sales de, Cabral Poliana Coelho, Diniz Alcides da Silva, Fisberg Mauro, Fisberg Regina Mara, Arruda Ilma Kruze Grande de
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Faculdade de Saúde Pública Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Brasil.
Arch Latinoam Nutr. 2010 Mar;60(1):36-41.
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the extent of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) among preschool children in the city of Recife, Northeast Brazil. The sample comprised 344 children of both sexes, 24 to 60 months old, in 18 public day care centres in the city of Recife, in 2007. The nutritional status of vitamin A was assessed by biochemical (serum retinol) and dietetic (vitamin A rich-food consumption) indicators and the pondo-stature status through anthropometric indicators weight-for-age, height-for-age and weight-for-height. The prevalence of hyporetinolemia (< 0.70 micromol/L) was 7.7% (IC 95% 4.88 - 11.81), which characterizes the VAD as a light-type public health problem, according to World Health Organization criteria. On the other hand, 29.6% (IC 95% 24.22 - 35.63) of children had acceptable or marginal levels (0.70 to 1.04 micromol/L) of retinol. Regarding the vitamin A rich-food intake, values below the EAR (Estimated Average Requirement) - 210 microg/ day for children of 1 to 3 years old and 275 microg/day for children of 4 to 8 years old - were 8.1% and 21.3% respectively. The prevalence of anthropometrical deficits (< -2 scores -Z) in preschool children were 2.5% for the indicator weight-for-age, 8.6% for height-for-age and 1.5% for weight-for-height. The research findings point out to the importance of institutionalization for the appropriate nutritional status of children and maintenance of adequate reserves of vitamin A. However, more studies are needed focusing on non-institutionalized preschool, or children living outside the privileged environment of public day care centres.
该研究的目的是评估巴西东北部累西腓市学龄前儿童维生素A缺乏症（VAD）的程度。样本包括2007年来自累西腓市18个公共日托中心的344名24至60个月大的男女儿童。通过生化指标（血清视黄醇）和饮食指标（富含维生素A食物的摄入量）评估维生素A的营养状况，并通过人体测量指标年龄别体重、年龄别身高和身高别体重评估体格状况。根据世界卫生组织标准，低视黄醇血症（<0.70微摩尔/升）的患病率为7.7%（95%置信区间4.88 - 11.81），这表明VAD属于轻度公共卫生问题。另一方面，29.6%（95%置信区间24.22 - 35.63）的儿童视黄醇水平处于可接受或边缘水平（0.70至1.04微摩尔/升）。关于富含维生素A食物的摄入量，1至3岁儿童低于估计平均需求量（EAR）——210微克/天，4至8岁儿童低于275微克/天——的比例分别为8.1%和21.3%。学龄前儿童人体测量指标不足（<-2分-Z）的患病率，年龄别体重指标为2.5%，年龄别身高指标为8.6%，身高别体重指标为1.5%。研究结果指出机构照料对于儿童适当营养状况和维持充足维生素A储备的重要性。然而，需要更多研究关注非机构照料的学龄前儿童，或生活在公共日托中心特权环境之外的儿童。
