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

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.

Automated summary

This 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. The results showed no association between dietary intake of preformed VA and pro-VA carotenoids and serum retinol and carotenoid concentrations.