Breast-feeding, dietary intakes and their associations with subclinical vitamin A deficiency in children in Anhui Province, China.

摘要

Associations between breast feeding, dietary intakes and other related factors and subclinical vitamin A deficiency (SVAD) was investigated in 1052 children aged 0-5 yr in an area in China where mild vitamin A deficiency (VAD) was found. SVAD cases were identified by the indicator of serum retinol <=20 mug/dl. Breast feeding status, dietary intakes and other factors were collected through a pre-designed questionnaire. The prevalence of SVAD in children aged 0-5 yr was 6.9%. Logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratio of SVAD for breast feeding was 3.56 (95% confidence limits (95% CL) 2.17-5.82). After adjustment for sex, age in categories, residence, mother's education, mother's occupation, vitamin A preparation supplements, rank in siblings and diarrhoea, the odds ratio for breast feeding fell to 2.38 (95% CL 1.13-4.95). The odds ratios for breast feeding within children aged 1 yr were 5.46 (95% CL 2.07-15.03) and 4.6 (95% CL 1.72-12.82) before and after adjustment of other confounders, respectively. The odds ratios for breast feeding did not show statistical significance within children aged 0 or 2 yr. The odds ratios decreased, but remained statically significant after further adjustments for individual dietary factor or all dietary factors. Breast feeding was a risk factor of SVAD for children, especially for those aged 1 yr. The differences in dietary intakes and other established risk factors could not fully explain the increased risk. Results indicated that prolonged breast feeding alone may not ensure protection of children from VAD in an area with mild SVAD.