Determinants of vitamin a deficiency in children between 6 months and 2 years of age in Guinea-Bissau.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies Guinea-Bissau as having severe vitamin A deficiency (VAD). To date, no national survey has been conducted. We assessed vitamin A status among children in rural Guinea-Bissau to assess status and identify risk factors for VAD.

Methods

In a vitamin A supplementation trial in rural Guinea-Bissau, children aged 6 months to 2 years who were missing one or more vaccines were enrolled, vaccinated and randomized to vitamin A or placebo. Provided consent, a dried blood spot (DBS) sample was obtained from a subgroup of participants prior to supplementation. Vitamin A status and current infection was assessed by an ELISA measuring retinol-binding protein (RBP) and C-reactive protein (CRP). VAD was defined as RBP concentrations e

SUBMITTER: Danneskiold-Samsoe N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3599523 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature