Evaluating the serum retinol and zinc levels of the school aged children and the influencing factors

The vitamins and minerals necessary for human body are called micronutrients. Nowadays, asymptomatic micronutrient deficiencies are gaining importance as a public health problem and getting attention of the health authorities. Vitamin A and zinc deficiencies are common micronutrient deficiencies like iron and iodine deficiency. Vitamin A and zinc deficiencies increase the risk of morbidity and mortality in children. Worldwide it is estimated that 1.3-2.5 million children die from vitamin A deficiency within a year and 3 million children are clinically deficient, another 250 million experience subclinical deficiency. Global prevalance of zinc deficiency is found to be %31 in the studies performed. This study is undertaken to investigate prevalance of asymptomatic vitamin A and zinc deficiency among totally healthy school-aged children and to evaluate the affecting factors.The study was carried out in schools in Altındağ, Ankara from April to May 2009. 585 girls and 478 boys, a total of 1063 healthy children aged 5-16 years were taken into the study. Serum retinol, zinc, ferritin and hs-CRP levels and complete blood count of each case were measured. A questionnare was developed to collect socio-economic and demographic information of the participants. Data on the dietary pattern of the children, illness history for the previous 2-week period, vitamin supplementation were questioned. Zinc deficiency was observed in 27,8 % of the cases where as only 2.2 % of the cases had suboptimal vitamin A levels. There were significant positive correlations between serum retinol and hemoglobin values, and statistically significant negative correlation between serum retinol level and ferritin and hsCRP.Even though vitamin A deficiency is not an important public health problem in Altındağ, Ankara, zinc deficiency seems to be still an important problem. Nationwide prevention programmes must be developed in order to prevent the widespread micronutrient deficiencies. The government should develop policies supporting the intake through regular supplementation, food fortification and dietary modification.Key Words: Vitamin A Deficiency, Zinc Deficiency, serum retinol level.