The mean ( standard deviation) age

The mean ( standard deviation) age of children in the study was 3.1 1.3 , and 48.6% of the children were female. The proportion of children who had serum vitamin A concentrations below 0,70 M/L was 59.9%. Of 904 children who had hemoglobin concentrations measured, 36.4% were anemic . Of 831 children who had serum ferritin concentrations measured, 53.5% had iron deficiency and 23.8% had iron deficiency anemia. Serum ferritin was not measured in 88 children because of inadequate sample volume; these children did not differ who had significantly by age, sex, and retinol level from the 831 children who had a ferritin measurement (data not show). The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency, anemia, iron deficiency, iron deficiency anemia, and iron and vitamin A deficiencies combined is show by atoll in Table I. The atolls that appeared to have the highest prevalence of vitamin A deficiency were Arno, Majuro, and Kwajalem. The atoll that appeared to have the highest prevalence of iron deficiency was Namu.
The frequency distribution of serum retinol concentrations is show in Figure 1. mean ( standard deviation) retinol concentrations among boys and girls were 0.64  0.29 and 0.68  0.28M/L, respectively (p = 0.033). The mean ( standard deviation) ages of preschool children who were deficient in vitamin A (serum retinol < 0.70 M/L) and non- deficient were 3.2 `.4 and 2.9  1.5 , respectively (P = 0.01). Proportions of children with serum retinol concentrations consistent with moderate and severe vitamin A deficiency are show by age in Figure 2. There appeared to be a trend toward and increase in the proportion of chidren with moderate vitamin A deficiency but not with severe vitamin A deficiency by advancing age (P = 0.01 and 0.21, respectively).
The prevalences of anemia and iron deficiency by age are show in Figure 3. Mean ( standard deviation) hemoglobin concentrations among boys and girls were 110  10 and 110  9 g/L, respectively (P = 0.74). The mean ( standard deviation) ages of children with and without anemia were 2.5  1.3 and 3.4  1.3 , respectively (P < 0.0001). The mean ( standard deviation) ages of children with and without anemia were 2.3  1.2 and 3.4  1.4, respectively ( P < 0.0001). There was a significant downward trend in the prevalences of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia by advancing age (P < 0.001 for both). The overall prevalences of vitamin A deficiency, iron deficiency , and combined vitamin A and iron deficiencies were 59.9%, 53.5%. Serum retinol and hemoglobin concentrations were correlated (n = 904; Spearman’s correlation, r = 0.159; P < 0.0001). Vitamin A deficiency was associated with anemia (Table II; P = 0.0095).
FIG 1. FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION OF SERUM RITINOL CONCENTRATIONS IN 919 PRESCHOOL CHILDREN IN THE REPUBIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS
Discussion
The present study showed that the prevalence of vitamin a deficiency is extremel high, occurring in about 60% of preschool children in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. These data are consistent with recent epidemiologic studies showing an extremely high prevalence of vitamin A deficiency among preschool children in the South and Western Pacific regions. In other epidemiologic studied conducted in the region , low consumption of vitamin A rich foods, lack of home gardening, and low levels of maternal education have been identified as risk factors for clinical vitamin A deficiency. Mean serum concentrations of vitamin A were lower among bots than among girls, which corroborated a general finding that has been described among many different populations in developing countries.
FIG 2. Prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (serum retinol < 0.70 M/L) by age. Prevalence of children with serum retinol below 0.70 M/L increased with age (P = 0.011). Shaded regions indicateproportions of children who had serum retinol below 0.35 M/L. Prevalence of children with serum retinol below 0.35 M/L did not appear to increase with age (P = 0.21)
Fig 3. Prevalence of anemia by age. Prevalence of children with anemia decreased with age (P < 0.0001). Shaded regions indicate ptoportions of children who had iron deficiency anemia (serum ferritin

Kết quả (Việt) 1:

The mean ( standard deviation) age of children in the study was 3.1 1.3 , and 48.6% of the children were female. The proportion of children who had serum vitamin A concentrations below 0,70 M/L was 59.9%. Of 904 children who had hemoglobin concentrations measured, 36.4% were anemic . Of 831 children who had serum ferritin concentrations measured, 53.5% had iron deficiency and 23.8% had iron deficiency anemia. Serum ferritin was not measured in 88 children because of inadequate sample volume; these children did not differ who had significantly by age, sex, and retinol level from the 831 children who had a ferritin measurement (data not show). The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency, anemia, iron deficiency, iron deficiency anemia, and iron and vitamin A deficiencies combined is show by atoll in Table I. The atolls that appeared to have the highest prevalence of vitamin A deficiency were Arno, Majuro, and Kwajalem. The atoll that appeared to have the highest prevalence of iron deficiency was Namu.
The frequency distribution of serum retinol concentrations is show in Figure 1. mean ( standard deviation) retinol concentrations among boys and girls were 0.64  0.29 and 0.68  0.28M/L, respectively (p = 0.033). The mean ( standard deviation) ages of preschool children who were deficient in vitamin A (serum retinol < 0.70 M/L) and non- deficient were 3.2 `.4 and 2.9  1.5 , respectively (P = 0.01). Proportions of children with serum retinol concentrations consistent with moderate and severe vitamin A deficiency are show by age in Figure 2. There appeared to be a trend toward and increase in the proportion of chidren with moderate vitamin A deficiency but not with severe vitamin A deficiency by advancing age (P = 0.01 and 0.21, respectively).
The prevalences of anemia and iron deficiency by age are show in Figure 3. Mean ( standard deviation) hemoglobin concentrations among boys and girls were 110  10 and 110  9 g/L, respectively (P = 0.74). The mean ( standard deviation) ages of children with and without anemia were 2.5  1.3 and 3.4  1.3 , respectively (P < 0.0001). The mean ( standard deviation) ages of children with and without anemia were 2.3  1.2 and 3.4  1.4, respectively ( P < 0.0001). There was a significant downward trend in the prevalences of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia by advancing age (P < 0.001 for both). The overall prevalences of vitamin A deficiency, iron deficiency , and combined vitamin A and iron deficiencies were 59.9%, 53.5%. Serum retinol and hemoglobin concentrations were correlated (n = 904; Spearman’s correlation, r = 0.159; P < 0.0001). Vitamin A deficiency was associated with anemia (Table II; P = 0.0095).
FIG 1. FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION OF SERUM RITINOL CONCENTRATIONS IN 919 PRESCHOOL CHILDREN IN THE REPUBIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS
Discussion
The present study showed that the prevalence of vitamin a deficiency is extremel high, occurring in about 60% of preschool children in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. These data are consistent with recent epidemiologic studies showing an extremely high prevalence of vitamin A deficiency among preschool children in the South and Western Pacific regions. In other epidemiologic studied conducted in the region , low consumption of vitamin A rich foods, lack of home gardening, and low levels of maternal education have been identified as risk factors for clinical vitamin A deficiency. Mean serum concentrations of vitamin A were lower among bots than among girls, which corroborated a general finding that has been described among many different populations in developing countries.
FIG 2. Prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (serum retinol < 0.70 M/L) by age. Prevalence of children with serum retinol below 0.70 M/L increased with age (P = 0.011). Shaded regions indicateproportions of children who had serum retinol below 0.35 M/L. Prevalence of children with serum retinol below 0.35 M/L did not appear to increase with age (P = 0.21)
Fig 3. Prevalence of anemia by age. Prevalence of children with anemia decreased with age (P < 0.0001). Shaded regions indicate ptoportions of children who had iron deficiency anemia (serum ferritin <12 g/L). prevalence of children with iron deficiency anemia decreased with age (P < 0.0001).