UNDERNUTRITION AND VITAMIN-A-DEFICIENCY IN THE DEPARTMENT-OF-LINGUERE, LOUGA REGION OF SENEGAL

Anthropometric measurements were taken on 281 toddlers (24-48 mo old) in Linguere, Senegal, to determine the prevalence of undernutrition. B lood samples collected from 271 of the toddlers were analyzed for reti nol and carotenoids by HPLC. According to the National Center for Heal th Statistics reference values 30.2% of the population was undernouris hed. Serum retinol values were below the lower limit of the normal ran ge in 71.5% of the children; 7.4% of this group had concentrations < 0 .35 mumol/L, placing them at risk for xerophthalmia. Only 3% of the po pulation had serum retinol values greater-than-or-equal-to 1.0 mumol/L . Serum carotenoids were low (< 0.70 mumol/L) in 55% of the children. Retinol-binding protein values were low and measurable concentrations of retinyl palmitate were detectable in only 17% of the children. Unde rnutrition and poor vitamin A status were found to exist at a concentr ation that would endanger health.