Serum retinol concentration and prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in postpartum women

• Published in: Revista brasileira em promoção da saúde = Brazilian journal in health promotion 2011-01, Vol.24 (1), p.40
• Main Authors: Juliana Cristina de Oliveira Dantas, Perez Medeiros, Ana Caroline, Karla Danielly da Silva Ribeiro Rodrigues, Dimenstein, Roberto
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Subjects: High performance liquid chromatography; Normality; Preschool children; Public health; Vitamin A
• ISSN: 1806-1222; 1806-1230
• DOI: 10.5020/2050

Objective: To check the serum retinol concentration and assess the nutritional status of postpartum women assisted at Januario Cicco Maternity School, Natal / RN in relation to vitamin A deficiency. Methods: We recruited 190 healthy postpartum women assisted at a Brazilian public hospital. Serum retinol concentration was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Retinol values below 30 ?g g / dL were considered indicative of vitamin A deficiency. Results: The nutritional biochemistry status of vitamin A, regarding to serum retinol, presented an average of 44.6 ± 17.6 ?g g / dL, showing normal values according to the referential (? 30 ?g g / dL). However, 45 (23.7%) mothers had deficient levels of serum retinol, a prevalence which classifies the study population as a serious public health problem. Conclusion: The prevalence found in this study reports that the population is at risk for vitamin A deficiency, a situation clouded by the apparent normality of the mean serum retinol.