Abstract
Summary What is already known on this topic? Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in children is still a global public health problem, which needs continuous monitoring and timely intervention. What is added by this report? Using surveillance data from China Nutrition and Health Surveillance of Children and Lactating Mothers in 2016−2017, the prevalence of VAD and marginal deficiency was 0.96% and 14.71%, respectively. The vitamin A nutritional status of children and adolescents from urban areas and those aged 12−17 years were better than those from rural areas and aged 6−11 years. What are the implications for public health practice? Marginal VAD was a major form of VAD in Chinese children. The monitoring of vitamin A status in key populations should be continuously strengthened, and the public should be encouraged to consume foods rich in vitamin A or vitamin A supplements.
Highlights
Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) may damage the functioning of visual rod cells, reduce the ability of dark adaptation, and subsequently affect the visual function of children
Secondary to xerophthalmia caused by severe VAD in children, is a major cause of blindness in children worldwide, resulting in irreversible visual impairment in children
The current results showed that the nutritional status of vitamin A in children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years in China has been improving significantly
Summary
Serum Vitamin A Nutritional Status of Children and Adolescents Aged 6−17 Years — China, 2016−2017. Using surveillance data from China Nutrition and Health Surveillance of Children and Lactating Mothers in 2016−2017, the prevalence of VAD and marginal deficiency was 0.96% and 14.71%, respectively. Since 2002, serum retinol concentration has been used for the first time to evaluate the vitamin A nutritional status of children aged 3–12 years in China Nutrition and Health Survey. Data were obtained from the China Nutrition and Health Surveillance of Children and Lactating Mothers in 2016–2017 It was conducted using multistage stratified random sampling method, including 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in the mainland of China, 150 monitoring sites, and 280 children and adolescents aged 6–17 years from each monitoring site with a sex ratio of 1∶1 [6]. The prevalence of marginal VAD of 6–11 year-old children was significantly higher than that of 12–17 year-old adolescents, which were 21.14% and 8.82%, respectively (χ2=585.378, P
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