Jornal de Pediatria (Apr 2005)

Prevalência da carência de ferro e sua associação com a deficiência de vitamina A em pré-escolares Prevalence of iron deficiency and its association with vitamin A deficiency in preschool children

  • Ivan S. Ferraz,
  • Júlio C. Daneluzzi,
  • Hélio Vannucchi,
  • Alceu A. Jordão Jr.,
  • Rubens G. Ricco,
  • Luiz A. Del Ciampo,
  • Carlos E. Martinelli Jr.,
  • Alexander A. D’Angio Engelberg,
  • Luis R. C. M. Bonilha,
  • Viviane I. C. Custódio

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0021-75572005000300014
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 81, no. 2
pp. 169 – 174

Abstract

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OBJETIVO: Estimar a carência de ferro na população estudada e verificar se isso se associa à falta de vitamina A. MÉTODOS: Foram estudadas 179 crianças com idade > 24 meses e OBJECTIVES: To identify the prevalence of iron deficiency in the population studied, as well as verifying if such deprivation is associated with vitamin A deficiency. METHODS: One hundred seventy-nine children, > 24 months and < 72 months of age, with no diarrhea and/or fever at collection were studied. Vitamin A deficiency identification was carried out through serum 30-day dose-response test. Samples of peripheral blood from fasting children was obtained for hemoglobin counts, serum iron, and unsaturated iron binding capacity assays. Information about the presence of diarrhea and/or fever during the 15 days preceding the study was also obtained. RESULTS: 35.8% (64/179) of the children presented iron deficiency and 75.4% (135/179), vitamin A deficiency. 29.1% (52/179) of the children presented both iron and vitamin A deficiencies. Iron deficiency was not associated with vitamin A deficiency. A separate analysis for each hematimetric index also demonstrated no significant difference between children with or without vitamin A deficiency. Children aged 24 to 36 months presented significantly higher prevalence rates of iron deficiency (p = 0.0005) as did children with diarrhea and/or fever during the 15 days preceding the study (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Although iron deficiency was not associated with vitamin A deficiency, high rates of both deficiencies were exhibited in a "healthy" population with low malnutrition indices. Such situations are known as "hidden hunger". Younger children presented a higher risk of iron deficiency as did children with diarrhea and/or fever during the 15 days preceding the study.

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