Background and objectives: Vitamin A deficiency is particularly common among children younger than 5 years. In 2011, a study conducted in West Java revealed that the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in children aged 6-11 months, 12-23 months, and 24-59 months was 18.2%, 15.2%, and 9.9%, respectively. The present study analysed the differences in vitamin A intake and serum retinol in all the preschool children from Grobogan and Kudus, Central Java.
Methods and study design: The baseline data of vitamin A efficacy were analysed. A total of 143 children aged 1-3 years participants (n=71 from Kudus and n=71 from Grobogan) were recruited and we used independent t-tests to analyse the data.
Results: Among the study population, 50.7% and 48.6% were boys and 49.3% and 51.4% were girls from Kudus and Grobogan, respectively. The average intake of energy, carbohydrates, protein, fat, and vitamin A was 698±440 (Kcal), 89±60 (g), 25.9±18.5 (g), 26.1±18.5 (g), and 435.3±554.0 (μg) in Kudus and 868±493 (Kcal), 109±67 (g), 30.9±20.1 (g), 35.1±23.1 (g), and 538.1±622.9 (μg) in Grobogan, respectively. The average serum retinol in Kudus and Grobogan were 26.7±6.4 (μg/dL) and 29.6±5.9 (μg/dL), respectively. Significant differences in energy and fat intake (p<0.05) were also observed between the Kudus and Grobogan districts; however, no differences in protein, carbohydrates, and vitamin A intake (p>=0.05) were noted. A significant difference in serum retinol was observed between these two districts (p<0.05).
Conclusions: An increase in vitamin A intake through various foods should improve the serum retinol in preschool children.