Revista Chilena de Obstetricia y Ginecología (Jan 2011)
Deficiencia de vitamina A en adolescentes no gestantes y gestantes de Maracaibo, Venezuela
Abstract
Antecedentes: La deficiencia de vitamina A (DVA) es un problema nutricional de salud pública en el mundo. Durante el embarazo se ha asociado con incremento en la morbilidad y mortalidad materno-infantil. Objetivo: Determinar en adolescentes no gestantes y gestantes venezolanas, el estado nutricional de la vitamina A (ENVA). Método: Se realizó un estudio transversal, descriptivo y controlado, en 235 adolescentes mujeres (edad: 16,76 ± 1,48 años); 75 no gestantes y 160 gestantes. El ENVA fue evaluado según valores de retinol sérico (RS) por cromatografía líquida de alta eficacia (HPLC) y citología de impresión conjuntival (CIC). Resultados: En gestantes y no gestantes la prevalencia de CIC anormal (37,5% vs 48%; p>0,05) y afectación del ENVA (41,24% vs 13,34%; p=0,0001) fue alta; significativamente mayor durante el segundo y tercer trimestre de gestación (pBackground: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a public health nutrition problem in the developing world. VAD had been associated with increased risk of maternal and childhood mortality and morbidity. Objective: To determine vitamin A status (VAS) between non pregnant and pregnant adolescents from Maracaibo-Vene-zuela. Methods: A cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted in 235 female adolescents (16.76 ± 1.48y old); non pregnant (n=75) and pregnant (n=160). Vitamin A status was assessed by using serum retinol concentrations (SRC) and conjuctival impression cytology (CIC). SRC were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography and CIC. Results: In pregnant and non pregnant adolescents the prevalence of CIC abnormal (37.50% vs 48%) and non normal VAS (41.24% vs 13.34%; p=0.0001) were high, predominantly in the second and third trimester of pregnancy (p<0.0002). Pregnant adolescents showed significative reduction of the mean SRC values (p<0.0001), while gestational age had a negative and no significant relationship with SRC. The odds ratio for pregnant adolescents with non normal VAS was 4.56 (95%IC: 2.0-10.23), resulting significantly more frecuent non normal VAS in pregnant adolescents than non pregnant adolescents. Conclusions: The high prevalence of VAD found in this work, is a public health problem in venezuelan female adolescents and this vulnerable group require immediate interventions.