Hipovitaminose A em recém-nascidos em duas maternidades públicas no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil Hypovitaminosis A in neonates from public hospitals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract

O estado nutricional de vitamina A foi avaliado, através dos níveis de retinol no sangue do cordão umbilical, em 253 recém-nascidos assistidos em duas maternidades públicas do Município do Rio de Janeiro. Independentemente da idade gestacional e do peso ao nascer, a prevalência de valores baixos de retinol (Vitamin A status (umbilical cord retinol levels) of 253 newborns in two public hospitals of Rio de Janeiro showed a high prevalence (55.7%) of deficiency (retinol levels below 1.05 µmol/l). This rate of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) was independent of other nutritional and anthropometric parameters, such as low birth weight or small for gestational age. These data suggest that newborns can be as vulnerable to VAD as other population groups considered at high risk. They also suggest that special attention should be paid to this group, actually the most vulnerable to the harmful effects of VAD. Hypovitaminosis A should be among the first diagnostic hypotheses when an infant presents with an abnormality.

Keywords

• Vitamina A
• Deficiência de Vitamina A
• Recém-Nascido
• Estado Nutricional
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin A Deficiency
• Newborn
• Nutritional Status