›› 2017, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (10): 755-.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1000-3606.2017.10.010

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Correlation of vitamin A deficiency with hemoglobin level and respiratory tract infection in children

 JIN Chunhua 1,2, WANG Xiaoyan1, ZHANG Lili1, ZHANG Yue1, LI Na1, WANG Jianhong1, GAO Haitao1, SONG Wenhong1, JIN Na1, GAO Baojun1, JIANG Huaying2, WANG Hong3, MU Lijuan4, SUN Lifang5, REN Xia6, FU Yingxin7, ZHENG Chunmei8, NI Junjun8, ZHANG Ying9   

  1. 1. Department of Children Health Care, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing 100020, China; 2. Department of Comprehensive Treatment Center, Beijing Shou Er Li Qiao Children's Hospital, Beijing 101314, China; 3. The Civil Aviation General Hospital, Beijing 100123, China; 4. Beijing Fangshan District Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Beijing 102400, China; 5. Beijing Pinggu District Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing 101200, China; 6. Beijing Shijingshan District Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing 100040, China; 7. Beijing Huairou Hospital, Beijing 101400, China; 8. Central Laboratory Beijing Harmony Health Medical Diagnostics Co, Ltd., Beijing 101111, China; 9. Department of Paediatrics,Tsinghua University Yuquan Hospital, Beijing 100040, China
  • Received:2017-10-15 Online:2017-10-15 Published:2017-10-15

Abstract: Objectives To explore the nutritional status of vitamin A in healthy children and children with respiratory infection symptoms, and its correlation with hemoglobin levels. Methods Health children who lived in Beijing for over half year during December 2014 to August 2015 were included. Serum retinol and peripheral blood hemoglobin were measured. The relationship of vitamin A nutritional status with age, respiratory tract infection and anemia were analyzed. Results A total of 1742 children (1056 males and 686 females) with a median age of 3.1 years (6 months~17 years) were enrolled. 202 children had respiratory tract infection and 1540 children didn’t have respiratory tract infection when visiting. The median serum retinol level was 0.29 mg/L (0.25~0.33 mg/L) in all children. The level of retinol in children with respiratory tract symptoms was significantly lower than that in children without respiratory symptoms (P<0.001). The prevalence of subclinical vitamin A deficiency and suspected subclinical deficiency were 5.8% and 47.9% respectively. The prevalence of both the subclinical and suspected subclinical vitamin A deficiency ratios were >50% in children under 9-year-old. The prevalence of subclinical vitamin A deficiency and suspected subclinical deficiency among different age groups were statistically different (P<0.001). The incidence of anemia in subclinical vitamin A deficiency, suspected subclinical deficiency children and normal children were 3.9%, 8.7%, and 10.8% respectively, and The differences were statistically significant (P<0.01). Serum retinol and hemoglobin concentrations were positively correlated with age (r=0.179 or 0.571, P all < 0.001). Furthermore, serum retinol was positively correlated with the concentration of hemoglobin (r=0.244, P<0.001). Conclusions Serum retinol level in children with respiratory infection is lower than that in healthy children. Vitamin A deficiency was associated with anemia.