Failure to thrive and its relationship to serum vitamin A levels and diet

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dc.contributor.authorDonald, P. R.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorShires, J.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorLangenhoven, M. L.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorVan Staden, E.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorLabadarios, D.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2011-03-18T14:57:12Z
dc.date.available2011-03-18T14:57:12Z
dc.date.issued1995
dc.descriptionCITATION: Donald, P. R. et al. 1995. Failure to thrive and its relationship to serum vitamin A levels and diet. South African Medical Journal, 85:373-377.
dc.descriptionThe original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.za
dc.description.abstractSerum vitamin A and retinol-binding protein (REP) levels were determined in a group of 34 children between 1 and 4 years of age with failure to thrive and in 34 age- and sex-matched controls. Both groups of children were also assessed in respect of anthropometry and diet. Vitamin A levels in patients (0-32,2 μg/100 ml; median 16,9 μg/100 ml) did not differ significantly from controls (6,4-47,2 μg/100 ml; median 16,1 μg/100 ml). Fourteen patients (42%) and 4 controls (12%) had vitamin A levels below 10 μg/100 ml. RBP levels in patients (0.45-3,50 mg/100 ml; median 2,17 mg/100 ml) also did not differ significantly from those in controls (1,21-3,66 mg/100 ml; median 2.06 mg/100 ml). No clinical features of vitamin A deficiency were detected. Weight and height for age, weight for height, mid-upper arm circumference and head circumference differed significantly between patients and controls (P < 0.0001 in each instance). Although within the recommendations for intake, patients had a significantly lower intake of the essential fatty acid C 18:2 (N=6) (linoleic acid) and vitamin A. In view of the current proposed relationship between vitamin A status and infectious diseases, the prevalence of biochemical vitamin A deficiency in children in the Cape Town community studied may contribute to the morbidity and mortality associated with infectious diseases in the area to a greater degree than has been suspected.
dc.description.versionPublisher’s version
dc.format.extent5 pages
dc.identifier.issn2078-5135 (online)
dc.identifier.issn0256-9574 (print)
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/7255
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherHealth & Medical Publishing Group
dc.rights.holderSouth African Medical Journal
dc.subjectVitamin Aen_ZA
dc.titleFailure to thrive and its relationship to serum vitamin A levels and dieten_ZA
dc.typeArticle
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