AUTHOR=Chen Qian , Liu Yongfang , Chen Li , Chen Jie , Yang Ting , Cheng Qian , Li Tingyu 

TITLE=Vitamin A Levels Among Pre-School Children of Central and Western China

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.694106

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2021.694106

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Objective: To investigate vitamin A deficiency of preschool children in central and western China for developing strategies to prevent and control vitamin A deficiency (VAD) among children.
Design: From November 2018 to September 2019, a total of 2194 healthy children aged 2-6 years were enrolled. Serum retinol levels of the children were detected by liquid-phase tandem mass spectrometry. Social demographics and dietary questionnaires were collected through interviews of children’s caregivers.
Setting: Samples were enrolled in 12 cities or their subordinate jurisdictions in Chinese central and western regions 
Participants: 2194 Healthy children aged 2-6 years old. 
Results: Overall, 35.51% (779/2194) of the children were found to be vitamin A insufficient (VAI, serum retinol < 1.05 μmol/L). Elder children had a higher risk to suffer from VAI, with proportions of 25.00% (87/348), 28.92% (142/491), 38.38% (256/667), and 42.73% (294/688) among children aged 2, 3, 4, and 5 years, respectively. The vitamin A levels were also positively correlated with per capita income (AOR=1.18) and regional economic level (0.71), and the frequency of milk intake (0.91).
Conclusions: the incidence of VAI was higher among children aged 2-6 years, and the incidence of VAI increases with age.VA levels were positively correlated with family and region economic development levels. So prevention strategies for VAD need to focus on preschool children, especially dairy intake and developing regions.