Vitamin A deficiency in healthy children aged 6-59 months in Izmir Province of Turkey

Vitamin A deficiency even at subclinical levels is associated with increase d childhood mortality. There have been few studies related to vitamin A sta tus of children in Turkey. The aim of this study was to assess vitamin A st atus of children aged 6-59 months in Izmir, Turkey, and to evaluate the rel ationship of these levels with nutritional status. One hundred and sixty ch ildren were selected for the study using the cluster sampling method. Serum retinol levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HP LC) and ranged from 9.8 to 59.2 mu g/dL (mean 29.3 +/- 9.5 mu g/dL). Levels were below the lower limit of the normal range in 15.6% of the children. D eficient and marginal serum retinol among stunted children were observed in 16% and 42% respectively. There was a statistically significant relationsh ip between low serum retinol and stunting (P < 0.05). Although xerophthalmi a and other clinical signs of vitamin A deficiency are rarely seen, subclin ical vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem in Izmir, Turkey.