[Vitamin A deficiency and nutritional status in patients with Down's syndrome].

INTRODUCTION

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a worldwide public health problem. Epidemiological studies of VAD prevalence have been conducted in individuals with chromosome load and genetic potential compared with the general population; however, there are few studies in patients with Down's syndrome (DS). The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of VAD and analyse nutritional status in patients with DS.

METHODS

A prospective and cross-sectional study was performed, with 50 karyotypically normal (KN) individuals (10.4+/-3.7 years old) and 38 randomly selected patients with DS (8.2+/-4.1 years old). Serum retinol was determined by HPLC using the Bieri method, with an international reference standard to define VAD (serum retinol <20 microg/dL). The data were analysed using the SAS/STAT statistical program.

RESULTS

The prevalence of VAD was 18.4% in individuals with DS and 4% in KN individuals (OR: 5.42; 95% CI=0.93-40.64; p=0.02). Children with DS between two and six years old shown a significativily lower serum retinol (p=<0.05).The patients with DS also showed a significant decrease in height and weight compared to KN (p=<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of VAD detected in patients with DS could be considered a public health problem. Also, the chromosome 21 trisomy represent a risk factor associated with VAD.