Study On Vitamin A Nutritional Intervention For School Aged Children In Two Areas Of Gansu Province

Part 1 Investigation of Vitamin A status for School-age Children in Longxi County,Xigu District of GansuObjectivesTo understand the dietary intake pattern,the energy intake and the vitamin A intake status,and the serum Vitamin A level of school-age children in Longxi County and Xigu District of Gansu province.MethodsUsing cluster random sampling method,extract a total of 2000 school-age children as the intervention group in field.645 children were randomized selected,combing the method of three-day 24-hour dietary survey and the food frequency,to take dietary survey and evaluate the food intake pattern.Extract 296 school-age children from the group,by using HPLC to measure the serum vitamin A level.Results1.The dietary structure of school-age children was umbalanced,bean product was in a severely insufficient,and the cooking oil is excessively intaked.The intake of energy and Vitamin A were insufficient.The intake of vitamin A was only 342.13?g RE.The intake of VA was only 1678.82 kcal.2.The average serum Vinatmin A level of investigated children was 0.4663±0.192ug/ml.The serum VA deficiency rate was 5.07%,and the marginal serum vitamin A deficiency rate was 16.55%.ConclusionsThe school-aged children's dietary pattern is unreasonable for at present in the poor areas of Gansu Province.The lacking of vitamin A is still existed.The nutrition intervention measures are of great significance to improve the health of the local schoolage children.Part 2 Intervention study of Vitamin A status for School-age Children in Longxi,Xigu District of GansuObjectivesTo observe the dietary status and serum Vitamin A level of school-age children in Longxi,Xigu District of Gansu and to evaluate the improving effect after intervention by adding nutritional dietary supplement of vitamin A biscuits and dietary nutritional guidance for six-months.MethodsIn accordance with the requirements of experimental design and principle of randomization,selecting 2000 school-age children(aged 7~12 years old)as the intervention cohort to follow the result of the nutritious intervention.After 6 monthes intervention,observing the change of food intake,and analysing the effect of the intervention project through cital indicators such as serum vitamin A level.ResultsAfter the intervention,the levels of dietary nutrition were improved for the schoolage children.Energy intake of all investigated children was 1678.82 kcal before intervention,and increased to 1983.22 kcal(P <0.05)after intervention.Vitamin A significantly increased from 342.13 ? g RE before intervention to 499.55 ? g RE(P <0.05)after intervention.There was statistically significant difference in average serum VA level between before and after intervention(P<0.05).The average serum VA level significantly increased from 0.4663±0.192ug/ml to 0.5988±0.184ug/ml.And the serum VA deficiency rate was dropped from 5.07% before intervention to 1.01 %(P <0.05)after intervention.The serum marginal VA deficiency rate was dropped from 16.55%before intervention to 5.07%(P <0.05)after intervention.ConclusionsBy the comprehensive nutrition intervention measures,such as supplement vitamin A and adjusting dietary nutrition,which effectively lower the vitamin A deficiency rate.Thus,a long period supplementation in vitamin A based on natural food(such as red palm oil)is one of the effective methods to improve vitamin A status of school-age children in poor rural areas.