The Effect of a Maternal Double Megadose of Vitamin A Supplement on Serum Levels of Retinol in Children Aged under Six Months
Table 1
Baseline characteristics of mothers and children, Recife, Brazil, 2008-2009.
Characteristics
400,000 IU vitamin A
200,000 IU vitamin A
Mean
SC
Mean
SD
Children
Male
134
65
(48.5)
142
5568
(47.9)
Weight at birth (g)
134
3344.0
405.3
142
3283.0
373.1
0.24
Length (cm)
134
48.9
2.0
142
48.9
1.8
0.86
Circumference of cranium (cm)
133
34.5
1.7
141
34.6
2.1
0.70
Serum retinol (µmol/L)
26
1.09
0.5
27
1.11
0.5
0.93
115
94
(81.7)
109
77
(70.6)
0.07
Mothers
Age (years)
134
24.3
5.6
142
24.9
6.8
0.48
Schooling (years)
134
8.8
2.9
142
8.8
2.5
0.86
Per capita income ($∣∣)
130
89.4
63.3
132
83.6
47.7
0.38
Adequate sanitation
127
28
(56.0)
123
22
(44.0)
Vitamin A intake** (µg) Med; IQ††
69
1090.4
817.7–1648.5
72
1164.7
841.0–1748.7
Serum retinol (µmol/L)
106
1.6
0.7
106
1.7
0.8
0.55
Student’s -test for nonpaired data; chi-squared test; Mann Whitney -test; maternal breastfeeding in the 6th month of life; ∣∣$: US dollars; inadequate sanitation: household without one or more of the following characteristics: indoor piped water, regular trash collection, and link to the sewerage network; vitamin A intake in µg of retinol; IQ: interquartile range.
