The vitamin A status of Zambian children in a community of vitamin A supplementation and sugar fortification strategies as measured by the modified relative dose response (MRDR) test

Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2009 Jan;79(1):40-7. doi: 10.1024/0300-9831.79.1.40.

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to determine the vitamin A status of Zambian children less than five years of age in a community where strategies of vitamin A supplementation and consumption of vitamin A fortified sugar have been introduced. In a cross-sectional study, a total of 537 children were enrolled. Their vitamin A status was measured using the modified relative dose response (MRDR) test. Their vitamin A status was compared to the status measured using a similar method in 1996, before vitamin A supplementation through capsule distribution and fortification of sugar was implemented as strategies to reduce vitamin A deficiency in the country. Results showed that the vitamin A status of children improved markedly as a result of these strategies.

MeSH terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Blood / parasitology
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Dietary Sucrose
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Female
  • Food, Fortified*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Nutrition Assessment*
  • Nutrition Policy
  • Nutritional Status*
  • Plasmodium / isolation & purification
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Vitamin A / administration & dosage*
  • Vitamin A / analogs & derivatives
  • Vitamin A / blood
  • Vitamin A / metabolism*
  • Vitamin A Deficiency / diagnosis*
  • Vitamin A Deficiency / prevention & control
  • Zambia

Substances

  • Dietary Sucrose
  • vitamin A2
  • Vitamin A