Vitamin A status in early childhood diarrhoea, respiratory infection and in maternal and cord blood.

Serum vitamin A levels were estimated in (i) 125 rural children (0-36 months old) with diarrhoea, and/or acute lower respiratory tract infection and (ii) 61 pregnant rural women and their off-springs. Mean serum vitamin A levels were 127.3, 112.1 and 94.0 mu g/dl, respectively, in diarrhoea, acute lower respiratory infection, and in children having both the illnesses. These levels were lower than the control (148.0 mu g/dl). However, level <20 mu g/dl diagnostic of deficiency was not observed in any child. The malnutrition and duration of illness over 4 days significantly decreased the mean serum vitamin A level. The vitamin A levels of children who died were not significantly different than those who recovered. The maternal mean levels of serum vitamin A were higher than the cord levels, both being within normal range.