Revista de Saúde Pública (Aug 1995)
Hipovitaminose A em crianças de áreas rurais do semi-árido baiano Vitamin A deficiency in children of rural zones, Northeast region of Brazil
Abstract
Objetivou-se avaliar a distribuição e a magnitude da deficiência de vitamina A e o consumo dietético de 161 crianças de 6 a 72 meses de idade, de áreas rurais do Município de Cansanção-Bahia, Brasil. Os níveis de retinol sérico foram medidos pelo método espectrofotométrico (Bessey-Lowry modificado por Araújo e Flores, 1978). A média do retinol sérico distribuiuse homogeneamente entre as diferentes faixas etárias. Níveis inadequados de retinol sérico (deficiente The distribution and magnitude of vitamin A deficiency and dietary consumption of 161 children at 6 to 72 months of age in rural zones in Cansanção-Bahia-Brazil were evaluated. The serum retinol levels were measured by the spectrophotometric method (Bassey-Lowry modified by Araújo and Flores). The serum retinol average was found to be distributed homogeneously throughout the different age groups. Inadequate serum retinol levels (<20,0 µg/dl) were detected in 44.7% of the children, which characterized the deficiency as constituting a public health problem. The serum retinol levels showed no statistically significant association as between the sex and age of the children; however the chilfren of less than 24 months showed a higher prevalence of inadequate serum retinol levels. The main available source of vitamin A for these children was represented by carotenoids, especially beta-carotene. Foods regarded as being rich in vitamin A were consumed by all age groups. The greatest diversification of consumption of foordstuffs with moderate and low vitamin A content was observed in the group of children of from 24 to 72 months of age, through this was no guarantee of adequate serum retinol levels in this group however.
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