Abstract

ORTEGA F, Pablo; LEAL M, Jorymar; AMAYA C, Daysi  and  MEJIAS C, Lidia. Deficiencia de vitamina A en adolescentes no gestantes y gestantes de Maracaibo, Venezuela. Rev. chil. obstet. ginecol. [online]. 2011, vol.76, n.2, pp. 86-93. ISSN 0717-7526.  doi: 10.4067/S0717-75262011000200005.

Background: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a public health nutrition problem in the developing world. VAD had been associated with increased risk of maternal and childhood mortality and morbidity. Objective: To determine vitamin A status (VAS) between non pregnant and pregnant adolescents from Maracaibo-Vene-zuela. Methods: A cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted in 235 female adolescents (16.76 ± 1.48y old); non pregnant (n=75) and pregnant (n=160). Vitamin A status was assessed by using serum retinol concentrations (SRC) and conjuctival impression cytology (CIC). SRC were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography and CIC. Results: In pregnant and non pregnant adolescents the prevalence of CIC abnormal (37.50% vs 48%) and non normal VAS (41.24% vs 13.34%; p=0.0001) were high, predominantly in the second and third trimester of pregnancy (p<0.0002). Pregnant adolescents showed significative reduction of the mean SRC values (p<0.0001), while gestational age had a negative and no significant relationship with SRC. The odds ratio for pregnant adolescents with non normal VAS was 4.56 (95%IC: 2.0-10.23), resulting significantly more frecuent non normal VAS in pregnant adolescents than non pregnant adolescents. Conclusions: The high prevalence of VAD found in this work, is a public health problem in venezuelan female adolescents and this vulnerable group require immediate interventions.

Keywords : Vitamin A deficiency; serum retinol; conjuctival impression cytology.