VITAMIN-A-DEFICIENCY IN CHILDREN OF RURAL ZONES, NORTHEAST REGION OF BRAZIL

The distribution and magnitude of vitamin A deficiency and dietary con sumption of 161 children at 6 to 72 months of age in rural zones in Ca nsancao-Bahia-Brazil were evaluated. The serum retinol levels were mea sured by the spectrophotometric method (Bassey-Lowry modified by Arauj o and Flores). The serum retinol average was found to be distributed h omogeneously throughout the different age groups. Inadequate serum ret inol levels (<20,0 mu g/dl) were detected in 44.7% of the children, wh ich characterized the deficiency as constituting a public health probl em. The serum retinol levels showed no statistically significant assoc iation as between the sex and age of the children; however the chilfre n of less than 24 months showed a higher prevalence of inadequate seru m retinol levels. The main available source of vitamin A for these chi ldren was represented by carotenoids, especially beta-carotene. Foods regarded as being rich in vitamin A were consumed by all age groups. T he greatest diversification of consumption of foordstuffs with moderat e and low vitamin A content was observed in the group of children of f rom 24 to 72 months of age, through this was no guarantee of adequate serum retinol levels in this group however.