Vitamin A and vitamin E statuses of preschool children of socioeconomically disadvantaged families living in the midwestern United States

Objective: To determine the vitamin A and vitamin E statuses of socioeconomically disadvantaged preschool American children. Design: Cross-sectional study of preschool children from socioeconomically disadvantaged families. Setting: Central Iowa, USA. Subjects: A group of 77 apparently healthy children was studied with the following characteristics: 5 mo-6 y; 37 males, 40 females; 56 non-Hispanic Caucasians, 3 Hispanics, 18 Afro-Americans. Methods: Modified relative dose response (MRDR) test for vitamin A status assessment; serum retinol, α-tocopherol, cholesterol, and carotenoids; weight for age. Results: Although the mean weight for age was the 53rd percentile of the NCHS standard, a significant number of children (P = 0.006, χ²) were either markedly underweight or overweight. Ratios of 3,4-didehydroretinol to retinol (DR/R) were > 0.030 in 32% of the children. Mean serum retinol, α-tocopherol and cholesterol (± s.d.) were 1.09 ± 0.23 μM/L, 16.8 ± 6.3 μM/L and 4.01 ± 0.8 mM/L. Three children (3.9%) showed a serum retinol value < 0.7 μM/L. One child with a serum retinol value < 0.7 μM/L and one additional child showed a ratio of α-tocopherol to cholesterol < 1.44 μmol/mmol. The mean α-tocopherol to cholesterol ratio for the group (4.31 ± 1.71 μmol/mmol), however, was satisfactory. The only significant (P ≤ 0.05) age-related changes were an increase in the serum cholesterol (P = 0.005) and decrease in the α-tocopherol to cholesterol ratio (P < 0.005) between the 0-2 y and the 2-4 y groups. Serum cholesterol (P = 0.0165, two-tailed) and lycopene (P = 0.004) concentrations of Afro-Americans were significantly higher than those of Caucasians. Median serum concentrations of α-carotene and β-carotene were lower and, of lycopene, higher than those found in children studied in a national survey. Serum carotenoid concentrations generally increased with age. Conclusions: Larger percentages of underweight and overweight children and a significant degree (32%) of inadequate vitamin A status were found in this group of socioeconomically disadvantaged children. Afro-Americans showed higher serum cholesterol and lycopene concentrations than did Caucasians, but otherwise were nutritionally similar. Age-related changes were small. Of nutritional parameters considered, the vitamin A status of socioeconomically disadvantaged segments of our population clearly needs attention.