Vitamin A deficiency and low prevalence of anemia in Yaqui Indian childrenin northwest Mexico

A study of 296 school-age Yaqui Indian children (6-10 y) was conducted in 2 6 rural communities. Vitamin A status was determined by retinol and caroten oid serum levels according to a method described previously (IVACG, 1982). Serum retinol and carotenoids in children were analyzed according to commun ity size. Vitamin A intake was assessed in a sub-sample by means of a 24h r ecall questionnaire. Serum retinol distribution showed that 6.3% of the chi ldren were below 10 mu g/100 mL (0.35 mu mol/L) and 40% were in the range o f 10-20 mu g/100 mL (0.35-0.70 mu mol/L). Differences (p < 0.02) were found between small and large communities (Median, 95% CI): 19.2 (17.1, 20.9) mu g/100 mL and 22.9 (20.3, 24.1) mu g/100 mL. Serum carotenoid levels were s ignificantly higher in large than in small and medium communities: 72 (68.2 , 77.8) mu g/100 mL versus 62.4 (53.3, 68.2) and 62.4 (55.7, 69.6) mu g/100 mL, respectively. Food staples were wheat flour tortillas, pinto beans, co rn tortillas, few animal products and scarce fresh vegetables. Mean vitamin A consumption was 244 +/- 29 mu g RE (34.9% of the US RDA). Iron status sh owed that only 4 children were classified as anemic, with two of them havin g iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficient erithropoiesis was observed in 7.8 % of the children and iron depletion only in 4.4%. The Yaqui diet seems to provide adequate amounts of iron but not of vitamin A or its precursors, wh ich renders a vitamin A status of sub-clinical deficiency that could be con sidered a public health problem.