DIETARY VITAMIN-A INTAKE IN RELATION TO CHILD GROWTH

Severe deficits in ponderal and linear growth are problems of major pu blic health significance among children in developing countries. We pr ospectively examined the association of dietary vitamin A intake with child growth among 28,740 Sudanese children ages 6-72 months. At basel ine and at each 6 month visit, all subjects were weighed and measured. Dietary vitamin A intake during the prior 24 hours was assessed using recall of vitamin A-containing foods. Dietary vitamin A intake was as sociated with attained height and weight after controlling for age, se x, morbidity, and socioeconomic variables. Compared with children in t he bottom quintile of intake, those in the top quintile were 11 mm tal ler [95% confidence interval(CI) = 8-13] and 237 gm heavier (95% CI = 153-320). Higher dietary vitamin A intake was also associated with red uced risk of stunting [relative risk (RR) for 5th vs 1st quintile = 0. 7; 95% CI = 0.5-0.9] and wasting (RR = 0.7; 95% CI = 0.5-0.9). Adequat e intake of foods: containing vitamin A may improve child growth where vitamin A deficiency prevails, but this relation may not De due to vi tamin A per se.