Application of the modified relative dose response test to pregnant Indonesian women for assessing vitamin A status.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of subclinical vitamin A deficiency (vitamin A inadequacy) in Indonesian pregnant women as assessed by the modified relative dose response test.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study of the vitamin A statuses of pregnant (second trimester) women randomly selected from ten different villages.

SETTING

West Java, Indonesia.

SUBJECTS

A group of 144 pregnant women recruited from the local health posts.

INTERVENTIONS

Modified relative dose response (MRDR) test, serum retinol determination and gynecological examinations.

RESULTS

The mean (s.d.) MRDR ratio was 0.039 +/- 0.031. Of the women tested, the vitamin A status of 17% was provisionally classified as being marginal (subclinically deficient) (MRDR ratio > or = 0.060), of 35% as being uncertain (MRDR ratio between 0.030 and 0.060) and of 48% as being satisfactory (MRDR ratio < or = 0.030).

CONCLUSION

If the vitamin A statuses of the 'uncertain' group are also deemed to be unsatisfactory, approximately half of the pregnant Indonesian women tested could benefit from an increased intake of vitamin A.