Plasmatic values of some antioxidant vitamins on healthy children.

The serum of 60 healthy children aged 1-16 years was analysed for vitamin A, vitamin E, beta-carotene and cholesterol contents. The study group consisted in 33 females and 27 males, living in the area of Rome, Italy. The mean serum values are 37.2 +/- 12.3 micrograms/dl for beta-carotene and 0.83 +/- 0.25 micrograms/dl for vitamin E. According to sex distribution, mean values of studied micronutrients levels are higher in boys than in girls, but not significantly. The cholesterol does not show alterations among the different groups in relation to sex or age. Vitamin A and vitamin E serum levels increased with age. Vitamin E level is strongly correlated with total cholesterol serum value. The beta-carotene increases significantly in the age group from 7 to 12 years and this value holds then steady until the age of 16.