VITAMIN-A AND VITAMIN-E STATUSES OF PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN OF SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED FAMILIES LIVING IN THE MIDWESTERN UNITED-STATES

Objective: To determine the vitamin A and vitamin E statuses of socioe conomically disadvantaged preschool American children. Design: Cross-s ectional study of preschool children from socioeconomically disadvanta ged families. Setting: Central Iowa, USA. Subjects: A group of 77 appa rently healthy children was studied with the following characteristics : 5 mo-6 y; 37 males, 40 females; 56 non-Hispanic Caucasians, 3 Hispan ics, 18 Afro-Americans. Methods: Modified relative dose response (MRDR ) test for vitamin A status assessment; serum retinol, alpha-tocophero l, cholesterol, and carotenoids; weight for age. Results: Although the mean weight for age was the 53rd percentile of the NCHS standard, a s ignificant number of children (P = 0.006, chi(2)) were either markedly underweight or overweight. Ratios of 3,4-didehydroretinol to retinol (DR/R) were > 0.030 in 32% of the children. Mean serum retinol, alpha- tocopherol and cholesterol (+/- s.d.) were 1.09 +/- 0.23 mu M/L, 16.8 +/- 6.3 mu M/L and 4.01 +/- 0.8 mM/L. Three children (3.9%) showed a s erum retinol value < 0.7 mu M/L. One child with a serum retinol value < 0.7 mu M/L and one additional child showed a ratio of alpha-tocopher ol to cholesterol < 1.44 mu mol/mmol. The mean alpha-tocopherol to cho lesterol ratio for the group (4.31 +/- 1.71 mu mol/mmol), however, was satisfactory. The only significant (P less than or equal to 0.05) age -related changes were an increase in the serum cholesterol (P = 0.005) and decrease in the alpha-tocopherol to cholesterol ratio (P < 0.005) between the 0-2 y and the 2-4 y groups. Serum cholesterol (P = 0.0165 , two-tailed) and lycopene (P = 0.004) concentrations of Afro-American s were significantly higher than those of Caucasians. Median serum con centrations of alpha-carotene and beta-carotene were lower and, of lyc opene, higher than those found in children studied in a national surve y. Serum carotenoid concentrations generally increased with age. Concl usions: Larger percentages of underweight and overweight children and a significant degree (32%) of inadequate vitamin A status were found i n this group of socioeconomically disadvantaged children. Afro-America ns showed higher serum cholesterol and lycopene concentrations than di d Caucasians, but otherwise were nutritionally similar. Age-related ch anges were small. Of nutritional parameters considered, the vitamin A status of socioeconomically disadvantaged segments of our population c learly needs attention.