International Journal of Epidemiology 2001;30:457-464
© International Epidemiological Association 2001
Child Health in Africa |
Association between vitamin A status and lung function level in children aged 6–9 years in Wukro wereda, Northern Ethiopia
a School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, 21, 111 Lakeshore Road, Ste Anne de Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada. E-mail: tkassa{at}po-box.mcgill.ca
b Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, 1110 Pine Avenue West, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1AB, Canada.
c Department of Nutrition, University of Montreal, C.P. Succursale centre ville, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada.
Abstract
Background In developing countries, studies using morbidity recalls to evaluate the benefits of vitamin A on respiratory health in children under 6 years of age have been inconclusive. This relationship has not been examined in older children. Spirometric measurements, an objective means of assessing respiratory health, require the subject's collaboration and have been successfully used in children over 6 years of age. This report describes a cross-sectional analysis of the relationship between lung function and vitamin A status in an area endemic to vitamin A deficiency.
Methods The data on which this report is based were gathered prior to the implementation of a prospective trial of the effect of vitamin A supplementation on lung function level in Northern Ethiopia. Vitamin A status was assessed by the Modified Relative Dose Response (MRDR) method and lung function assessed by spirometry in 702 rural children aged 6–9 years. Demographic, personal health, household, environmental and socioeconomic data were gathered by questionnaire.
Results In children with low vitamin A reserve, the unadjusted forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was 48.8 ml (P = 0.006) lower than in those with adequate reserve. This difference was 23.1 ml (P = 0.04) when adjusted for age, gender and height and 14.1 ml (P = 0.20) when adjusted for children's demographic, general health, lung function and household-related characteristics.
Conclusion Although these findings suggest that vitamin A plays a relatively minor role in determining FEV1 level, interpretation is limited by the cross-sectional design. Further clarification of its role requires a trial of vitamin A supplementation.
Keywords Vitamin A deficiency, vitamin A reserve, modified relative dose response, MRDR, lung function, FEV1, Ethiopia
Accepted 30 May 2000
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