Dietary intake of preformed vitamin A and provitamin A carotenoids are not associated with serum retinol and carotenoid concentrations among children 36–59 months of age in rural Burkina Faso : a cross-sectional study

Abstract

PurposeThis study aimed to assess the association between dietary intake of preformed vitamin A (VA) and pro-VA carotenoids and serum retinol and carotenoid concentrations among 36-59-month-old children in a rural area in Burkina Faso.MethodsTwo community-based cross-sectional studies were conducted in a rural area of Burkina Faso and included 115 children aged 36-59 months. Dietary intake of preformed VA and pro-VA was assessed directly by 24-h dietary recall. Serum retinol and carotenoid (& alpha;- and & beta;-carotene, and & beta;-cryptoxanthin) concentrations were measured. The associations between serum retinol and carotenoid concentrations and their respective dietary intake were assessed by multiple linear regression.ResultsGeometric mean [95% CI] adjusted serum retinol concentration in children was 0.86 [0.81; 0.92] & mu;mol/L. The prevalence of low adjusted serum retinol concentration (< 0.7 & mu;mol/L) was 26.8%. Geometric mean [95% CI] serum carotenoid concentrations were: & alpha;-carotene (0.03 [0.02; 0.03] & mu;mol/L), & beta;-carotene (0.14 [0.12; 0.16] & mu;mol/L), and & beta;-cryptoxanthin (0.17 [0.15; 0.21] & mu;mol/L). Dietary intakes of & alpha;- and & beta;-carotene and adjusted serum retinol and & alpha;-carotene concentrations were significantly higher during the rainy season. In multiple linear regressions, no associations were found between dietary intakes of preformed VA and pro-VA carotenoids and serum retinol and carotenoid concentrations in children aged 36-59 months in Burkina Faso. There was no effect of season on the associations between preformed VA and pro-VA carotenoids intake and serum retinol and carotenoid concentrations.ConclusionsThis study shows that dietary intakes of preformed VA and pro-VA carotenoids based on 24-h dietary recall method cannot be used as proxy of serum retinol and carotenoid concentrations in this population.