Nutritional status of iron in children from 6 to 59 months of age and its relation to vitamin A deficiency.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the iron nutritional status of children from 6 to 59 months of age and its relation to vitamin A deficiency.

METHOD:

Cross-sectional study involving 100 children, living in nine cities in the state of Paraíba, which were selected for convenience to form two study groups: children with vitamin A deficiency (serum retinol < 0.70 μmol/L; n = 50) and children without vitamin A deficiency (serum retinol ≥ 0.70 μmol/L; n = 50). The iron nutritional status was evaluated by biochemical, haematological and hematimetric indices. The cases of subclinical infection (C-Reactive Protein ≥ 6 mg/L) were excluded.

RESULTS:

Children with vitamin A deficiency had serum iron values statistically lower than the corresponding values in children without deficiency. The other iron nutritional status indices showed no statistical difference according to presence/absence of vitamin A deficiency.

CONCLUSION:

The interaction between iron and vitamin A deficiencies was evidenced in the case of circulating iron deficiency (serum iron), suggesting failure in the transport mechanisms of the mineral in children with vitamin A deficiency.

• Authors: Márcia Cristina Sales, Adriana de Azevedo Paiva, Daiane de Queiroz, Renata Araújo França Costa, Maria Auxiliadora Lins da Cunha, Dixis Figueroa Pedraza
• Journal: Nutricion hospitalaria (Nutr Hosp) 2013 May-Jun Vol. 28 Issue 3 Pg. 734-40 ISSN: 1699-5198 [Electronic] Spain
• PMID: 23848097 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2013. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Iron

Topics

• Child, Preschool
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Female
• Humans
• Infant
• Iron (blood)
• Male
• Nutritional Status
• Vitamin A Deficiency (blood)