OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the extent of vitamin A deficiency among preschool children attending public day care centres in Recife, State of Pernambuco, Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey involving 311 under 5-year-old children of both sexes, randomly selected, and assessed by biochemical (serum retinol), dietetic (vitamin A rich-food consumption) and anthropometric indicators (weight-for-height, weight-for-age and height-for-age). RESULTS: The prevalence of hyporetinolemia (serum retinol <0.70µmol/L) was 7.0%, which characterizes the vitamin A deficiency as a mild public health problem, according to World Health Organization criteria. Approximately 78.0% of the children met the recommendation for vitamin A rich-food consumption proposed by the Dietary Reference Intakes, 2001. The serum retinol levels and vitamin A rich-food intake were homogeneously distributed between both genders. However, children between 12 and 48 months old were liable to have lower vitamin A rich-food intakes as compared to the other age groups (p<0.05). The prevalence of underweight was 7.5%, stunting 8.1% and acute malnutrition 1.8%. Vitamin A deficiency showed no correlation with protein-energy malnutrition (p>0.05). Vitamin A rich-food intake showed low sensitivity (43.0%) and a very low positive predictive value (6.8%) as a screening diagnostic test for vitamin A deficiency. CONCLUSION: The identification of vulnerable population groups, and the selection of reliable indicators for the assessment of vitamin A status, are both essential for the diagnosis and planning aimed at preventing and controlling vitamin A deficiency.
vitamin A deficiency; nutrients intake; child; preschool
