Deficiencia de Vitamina A en Niños Preescolares: ¿Un Problema reemergente en Costa Rica?

Abstract

RESUMEN:Basado en la Encuesta Nacional de Nutrición de 1996, este estudio muestra los hallazgos sobre la prevalencia de la Deficiencia de Vitamina A (DVA) en 567 niños urbanos y rurales de 12-83 meses. En general se evidenció una prevalencia de DVA (retinol plasmático SUMMARY: Vitamin A Deficiency among Preschool Children: ¿A re-emerging Problem in Costa Rica?. Based on the 1996 National Nutrition Survey, this study shows the prevalence of Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) among 567 Costa Rican urban and rural 12-83 months old-children. In overall, the prevalence of VAD (plasma retinol <= 20 µg/dl) was 8.8%. No difference was found even when data were analyzed by area and gender. Around 30% of preschool children were at risk of VAD (plasma retinol between 20.1- 30 µg/dl). The proportion of children at risk for retinol deficiency was significantly higher in rural area in comparison with urban area (38.9% and 28.0% respectively, p< 0.05). Lineal regression analysis showed that plasma retinol levels were negatively related to the number of family members and positively related to mother’s schooling. Our results suggest a possible impairment in vitamin A status of preschool children.

Keywords

• Retinol plasmático
• niños preescolares
• vitamina A
• Costa Rica
• Plasma retinol
• preschool children
• vitamin A
• Costa Rica