Serum concentration of vitamins A and E and lipid in a rural population of north Cameroon.
Ann Nutr Metab
; 49(1): 26-32, 2005.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-15735365
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Vitamin A deficiency is still a major health problem mostly affecting people in developing countries. It contributes to increased mortality and morbidity through current infection. In Cameroon, it is a public health problem mostly in the northern part where palm oil, which is a principal source of provitamin A in the south of the country, is not consumed.AIM:
We carried out this research to discover the relationship between vitamins (A and E) and blood lipids in a normal rural population living in vitamin A-deficiency area.DESIGN:
A cross-sectional study with 81 healthy volunteers (40 men and 41 women) aged 3-61 (mean 18.32 +/- 1.63) years and living in two neighboring villages (Doyan and Larao) in the northern part of Cameroon, where previous studies revealed a prevalence of vitamin A deficiency of 33.3%.METHODS:
Serum concentrations of vitamins A and E were measured by fluorometric methods. Serum cholesterol and lipids were assayed by enzymatic methods.RESULTS:
The mean +/- standard error for vitamin A and E were 15.09 +/- 0.82; 526.99 +/- 29.57 mug/100 ml, respectively. The concentrations of the serum parameters analyzed were similar for both sexes, whereas the atherogenic ration of cholesterol (ARC) was significantly (p < 0.036) higher in women. Serum lipids (total lipids, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and phospholipids) correlated with vitamins A and E (p < 0.05). Vitamins A and E were highly correlated with each other (r = 0.42, p < 0.001). Age was positively associated with vitamin A (r = 0.42, p < 0.001) and vitamin E (r = 0.29, p < 0.01). Deficiency of vitamins A and E constitutes a public health problem with more than 56% of the subjects having low levels of these vitamins, while subjects tested had a low risk for cardiovascular diseases.CONCLUSION:
In this population we noticed normal lipid levels and vitamin A deficiency probably resulting from diets poor in provitamin A.
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Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Vitamina A
/
Deficiencia de Vitamina A
/
Vitamina E
/
Deficiencia de Vitamina E
/
Lípidos
Tipo de estudio:
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
País/Región como asunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Ann Nutr Metab
Año:
2005
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Camerún