Subclinical vitamin A deficiency (SCVAD) was studied basing on serum vitamin A levels in children, vitamin A levels in another breast milk in the 1st year breastfeeding. The data were collected in four ecological areas: Northern mountain area (A1), Red River plain (A2), Southern Vietnam Centre (A3) and MeKong delta (A4) in the year 2000. SCVAD in A1, A2, A3, A4 was 21.9%, 4.2%, 10.5% and 12.9% respectively. In breast milks, the data were 51.1%, 43.1%, 57.6% and 63.5^ respectively – i.e heavily deficit
Vitamin A Deficiency ; Serum ; Child ; epidemiology

Study was carried out in 323 bottle-fed infants od 5-6 months old in Dong Hy District – Thai Nguyen province in 2002 year. Malnourhished occurred in a high incidence, 11.5% have had a substandard height, 74.6% anemia and 39.3% vitamin A deficiency. Anemia and vitamin A deficiency were correlated positively. Anemia infants have had 2.3 times higher of vitamin A deficiency than normal infants and in contrary. Ethnic minority infants have had a gap rate of anemia and vitamin A deficiency 2 times higher than Kinh infants. In mothers, knowledge and practice of nutrition and breastfeeding, and of infant care were very limited. Nutrition supplements was not appropriate
Vitamin A Deficiency ; Anemia ; Infant ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVEThe survey will reveal current status of subclinical vitamin A deficiency (SVAD) and explore its affecting factors in children of China.

METHODSTotally 8 669 children aged under 6 years were randomly selected from 14 provinces for clinical examination, health and dietary questionnaire and serum level of vitamin A measurement with fluorescence method. The cut-off value for SVAD was defined as

RESULTSPrevalence of SVAD was 11.7% and that of suspected SVAD 39.2% in all subjects, which decreased with the increase of gross domestic product, average annual family income, mother's schooling and children's age. Prevalence of SVAD and suspected SVAD higher in rural areas (15.0%) than in urban areas (5.2%), and higher in children with a minority mother (22.6%) than in those with a Han nationality mother (8.7%). Prevalence of SVAD and suspected SVAD was higher in children whose blood samples were collected within one week in-taking vitamin A-rich food (12.6%-22.6%) than those in-taking vitamin A daily (4.1%-10.0%), and higher in children suffering from respiratory infection, fever and diarrhea two weeks before their blood collection (15.2%-20.3%) than in those without those diseases (10.1%-11.1%). Logistic regression analysis showed that poor family economic status, living in rural areas, children with a minority mother, younger age, no-dairy milk products intake, and respiratory infection and fever all were risk factors for SVAD.

CONCLUSIONSMore than half of children under six years old in China (50.9%) had vitamin A nutrition problem. Varied factors played roles to different extent in SVAD in children.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Prevalence ; Vitamin A ; blood ; Vitamin A Deficiency ; epidemiology ; etiology

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sunlight ; Vitamin D ; blood ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo understand the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) among children under six years of age in Tibet, China.

METHODSTotally, 1 257 children under six years of age were selected from two cities, two farming counties, two semi-farming counties and two livestock farming counties with stratified cluster sampling to asses VAD status in Tibet. Family information, children's feeding and disease history in the previous two weeks were collected by questionnaire. Blood specimen was collected from each child and serum was separated for detection of vitamin A concentration with microfluorescent spectrophotometry.

RESULTSTotally, 1 257 children under six years of age were surveyed, with 635 boys, 622 girls, 862 aged over two years, and 98.5% of Tibet nationality. Six cases of night blindness and two cases of xerophthalmia were detected from them, with prevalence of clinical VAD of 0.96%. Eighteen of 1071 mothers with children under six years of age were found suffering from night blindness, accounting for 1.7%. Clinical cases of VAD both in children and mothers came from all four sampling strata. Average serum concentration of vitamin A and prevalence of subclinical VAD (serum vitamin A lower than or equal to 0.70 micromol/L) was 1.15 micromol/L and 5.4% and 1.12 micromol/L and 4.7% in cities and livestock farming counties, respectively, significantly higher than those in farming (1.04 micromol/L and 11.0%) and semi-farming counties (1.05 micromol/L and 12.3%), respectively, as compared to average levels of 1.09 micromol/L and 8.4% in the autonomous region as a whole. Prevalence of subclinical VAD in children under six months and those aged six to eleven months were 22.2% and 13.3%, respectively, significantly higher than those in children aged one year (8.5%), two to three years (5.4%) and four to five years (7.9%), respectively. There was also significant difference in serum level of vitamin A between children at varied ages, but no significant difference both in serum level of vitamin A and prevalence of subclinical VAD between gender was found.

CONCLUSIONSIn general, status of VAD in children of Tibet was milder than that at national level. But, moderate subclinical VAD in some areas, such as farming and semi-farming counties, did exist, so vitamin A supplementation aiming to children, especially those under one year of age, in those areas should be urged.

Age Factors ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Sex Factors ; Tibet ; epidemiology ; Vitamin A ; blood ; Vitamin A Deficiency ; epidemiology

Objective: To explore current vitamin D status and influential factors of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency among children under 7 years of age in 11 provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities of China. Methods: According to the "province-city-hospital" sampling technical route, a total of 1 531 healthy children under 7 years of age were sampled from 11 provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities in China by the cluster random sampling method from November 2020 to November 2021. The demographic information, family conditions, behavior and living habits and feeding behaviors were collected using unified questionnaire. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D(25(OH)D) levels were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Serum 25(OH)D<30 nmol/L was considered deficient and 30-50 nmol/L was considered insufficient. With 25(OH)D≤50 nmol/L as the dependent variable, multivariate Logistic regression was applied to analyze the association between vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency and potential influential factors. Results: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency among children under 7 years of age in 11 provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities of China was 14.0% (215/1 531), 3.8% (25/664) and 21.9% (190/867) in 0-<3 and 3-<7 of age years, respectively. Compared to children aged 0-<3 years, children aged 3-<7 years had a 2.6-fold increased risk of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency (OR=3.60, 95%CI 1.93-6.72, P<0.001). Frequent sunlight exposure (OR=0.46, 95%CI 0.29-0.73, P=0.001), vitamin D supplementation (sometimes, OR=0.33, 95%CI 0.21-0.51, P<0.001; daily, OR=0.20, 95%CI 0.11-0.36, P<0.001) and infant formula intake(4-7 times per weeks, OR=0.43, 95%CI 0.28-0.68, P<0.001) were protective factors for vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are common among children under 7 years of age in 11 provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities of China, which is affected by age, sunlight exposure, vitamin D supplementation and infant formula intake.
Child ; China/epidemiology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Vitamin D ; Vitamin D Deficiency/epidemiology* ; Vitamins

Humans ; Infant ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Vitamin D Deficiency/epidemiology*

Adult ; Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Cities ; epidemiology ; Female ; Folic Acid Deficiency ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Smoking ; epidemiology ; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of Wenchuan Earthquake on the nutritional status, growth, and the prevalence nutritional anemia, vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and vitamin D deficiency among children under 60 months old living in the disaster areas.

METHODSA nutritional survey was conducted in April 2009. The survey recruited 466 under 60 months old children, including 162 children aged 0 months old and 304 children aged 24 - 59 months old. The children's growth status, prevalence of anemia, and the iron deficiency prevalence, vitamin A, D, B(12), folic acid status were measured. The study findings were compared to the results from 2002 Chinese Nutritional and Health Survey.

RESULTSThe exclusive breast milk feeding rate among infants under 6-months was 58.8% (30/51). Among the 0 - 23 months old children, only 10.7% (16/150) got breast feeding within one hour after delivery. Ninety-two per cent (149/162) 0 - 23 months old children never received any nutrient supplements. The average cereals and roots intakes of the 24 - 59 months old children living in the disaster area were (267.2 ± 154.3) g/d, higher than the result of rural children average (178.75 g/d) of 2002 National Nutrition and Health Survey (u = 9.995, P < 0.01). The average intakes of vegetables, aquatic products, meat and poultries were (63.6 ± 56.7), (2.6 ± 7.9), (19.4 ± 24.0) g/d, respectively, significantly lower than 2002 results 135.05, 8.82 and 32.23 g/d (u = 21.971, 13.728 and 9.321, P < 0.01). Fruits, dairy products and legumes intakes were (102.2 ± 110.8), (65.2 ± 123.8) and (20.5 ± 29.0) g/d, respectively, higher than 2002 results (32.81, 2.87 and 6.50 g/d; u = 10.919, 8.778 and 8.417, P < 0.01). The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency and marginal deficiency was 15.4% (29/188) and 30.3% (57/188), respectively. The sum of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was 92.0% (183/199). The prevalence of anemia of the 0-months old children and 24 - 59 months old children was 47.5% (77/162) and 21.5% (60/279), respectively. The prevalence of iron and zinc deficiencies was 45.7% (86/188) and 65.5% (127/197). The prevalence of stunt was 13.6% (38/279) among the 24 - 59 months old children.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that the dietary structure of the children living in the disaster area was not ideal. Although, the intakes of energy and protein supporting foods could meet the requirements, but the dietary lacks of meats, poultries, dairy products, legume products, aquatic products and vegetables. The vitamin A, vitamin D deficiency, iron and zinc deficiencies are of a high prevalence in the disaster area.

Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; epidemiology ; Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Disasters ; Earthquakes ; Humans ; Infant ; Nutrition Surveys ; Nutritional Status ; Prevalence ; Rural Population ; Vitamin A Deficiency ; epidemiology ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; epidemiology ; Zinc ; deficiency

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of Wenchuan Earthquake on the nutritional status and the prevalence of nutritional anemia, vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and vitamin D deficiency among reproductive women (15 - 44 years old) in the disaster areas one year after the Earthquake.

METHODSA nutritional survey was conducted in 3 counties in April 2009, one year after the Earthquake. Two towns from each county were selected as study sites, and this survey recruited 58 pregnant, 66 lactating and 242 non-pregnant-non-lactating women. A comparison was made to the results of 2002 Chinese Nutrition and Health Survey.

RESULTSThe cereals and roots intakes of the pregnant, lactating and non-pregnant-non-lactating women living in the disaster area were (426.8 ± 271.8), (568.0 ± 306.1), and (483.0 ± 277.7) g/d respectively, which were almost the same results (486.8, 509.3 and 495.1 g/d, respectively) from 2002 National Nutrition and Health Survey. The fat and oil intakes were (41.9 ± 51.6), (55.5 ± 69.2), and (66.9 ± 125.7) g/d, respectively, which were also the same ad the results (45.2, 43.9 and 41.4 g/d, respectively) from 2002 National Nutrition and Health Survey. The intakes of meats and poultries were only (58.1 ± 67.7), (76.3 ± 218.7), and (23.9 ± 29.6) g/d respectively, which were much lower than the recommended food intakes from the Branch of Maternal and Child Nutrition of Chinese Nutrition Society. The vitamin A deficiency and marginal deficiency prevalence were 6.9% (24/347) and 18.2% (63/347), respectively. The deficiency and insufficiency of vitamin D was sum to 93.9% (323/344). The prevalence of anemia was 32.6% (112/344). 51.0% (171/335) reproductive women were iron deficient, and 61.6% (210/347) women were suffering zinc deficiency.

CONCLUSIONThe study findings indicated that the dietary structure was seriously effected by the Earthquake. The sources from animal and legume products were relatively low. The micronutrients nutritional status was poor. The vitamin A, vitamin D, and iron, zinc deficiencies were highly prevalent in the disaster area.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Disasters ; Earthquakes ; Eating ; Female ; Humans ; Nutrition Surveys ; Nutritional Status ; Pregnancy ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Vitamin A Deficiency ; epidemiology ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; epidemiology ; Young Adult ; Zinc ; deficiency