Serum retinol concentrations and anthropometric indicators in primary school children studying in the 7th educational zone of Tehran city, 2000

Vitamin A deficiency has been considered as one of the prevalent public health problems in different societies, especially developing countries. Children are the most vulnerable group affected by the problem. According to the WHO, vitamin A deficiency exists at moderate sub-clinical level in Iran. This study was aimed to determine serum retinol concentrations and anthropometrical indicators in primary school childeren studying in the 7th educational zone of Tehran city, 2000. Using a systematic sampling method, 91 school boys and girls students studying at the 1st and the 2st educational grads were selected from 4 primary schools in the 7th educational zone of Tehran city. After getting informed consent from parents, children's height and weight were measured and 5cc venous blood was taken from each child. Retinol concentrations were measured by a HPLC method. Student T and Pearson correlation coefficient tests were employed to analyze the data using SPSS software. Present and chronic malnutrition was the main problem of the studying children, 19.8 percent of children were under the 10th percentile of weight for age and weight for height. Meanwhile, under nutrition was considered as significant problem among female student. Vitamin A deficiency was prevalent among boys and a significant positive correlation was seen between serum retinol concentrations and height for age (r=0.25, p=0.02). Vitamin A deficiency seems as a health problem mainly among rapidly growing boys which might affect the height measures. Despite moderate socio-economic status of children in the studied zone, malnutrition among girls was significant. The situation might be therefore worse among underprivileged students. It is expected that improving students, nutritional status can make the educational investments more effective.