Hematological studies in vitamin A deficient children.

Hematological studies were carried out in 110 children with varying levels of plasma retinol to investigate the relationship between vitamin A deficiency and anemia. In children with plasma retinol levels below 20 microgram/100 ml, the mean levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit were lower than those in children who had retinol levels above 20 microgram/100 ml. Following supplementation of vitamin A, there was a significant increase in the levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit and plasma iron. These findings suggest that apart from deficiency of iron, vitamin A deficiency may also have a contributory role in the development of anemia in children.