exudates and Vitamin-A-Deficiency

Topics: Anemia; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency; Child; Humans; Inflammation; Iron Deficiencies; Malaysia; Malnutrition; Nutritional Status; Pediatric Obesity; Prevalence; Schools; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency

Vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem worldwide, affecting approximately 190 million preschool-aged children and 19.1 million pregnant women. Fortification of vegetable oils with vitamin A is an effective, low-cost technology to improve vitamin A intake.. To examine the potential contribution of fortification of vegetable oils with vitamin A in Indonesia and Malaysia to increasing vitamin A consumption in these two countries and in countries to which oil is exported.. Detailed interviews were administered and a desk review was conducted. We also estimated potential vitamin A intakes from fortified vegetable oil.. Malaysia and Indonesia are two of the largest producers and exporters of vegetable oil. Fortification of vegetable oil in both countries has the potential to be used as a tool for control of vitamin A deficiency. Both countries have the capacity to export fortified vegetable oil. Vegetable oil fortified at a level of 45 IU/g could provide 18.8% of the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) for an Ethiopian woman, 30.9% and 46.9% of the EAR for a Bangladeshi child and woman, respectively, and 17.5% of the EAR for a Cambodian woman. Although concerns about obesity are valid, fortification of existing vegetable oil supplies does not promote overconsumption of oil but rather promotes consumption of vegetable oil of higher nutrient quality.. Fortifying vegetable oil on a large scale in Malaysia and Indonesia can reach millions of people globally, including children less than 5 years old. The levels of fortification used are far from reaching the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL). Vegetable oil fortification has the potential to become a global public health intervention strategy.

Topics: Child, Preschool; Commerce; Female; Food Industry; Food, Fortified; Humans; Indonesia; Infant; Malaysia; Nutritional Requirements; Plant Oils; Pregnancy; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency

Nutrition and HIV are closely related. Any immune impairment as a result of HIV leads to malnutrition, which in turn, can also lead to reduced immunity, thus contributing to a more rapid progression to AIDS.. This cross-sectional study determined the nutritional status of children living with HIV and are receiving antiretroviral medication in the Klang Valley. A total of 95 children aged one to eighteen years old were recruited between September 2008 and February 2009. Data collected included socio-economic status, anthropometric measurements, dietary intake, medical history and serum levels of selected micronutrients specific for immunity.. The mean age of the children was 8.4 +/- 3.9 years and the mean duration on antiretroviral medications was 68.3 +/- 38.3 months. Anthropometric assessment found that 9.5% of the children were underweight and 31.6% were overweight. In contrast, 20.8% were stunted and 14.6% severely stunted. Biochemical indicators showed that 10.4% had deficiency in vitamin A while 12.5% had deficiency in selenium. Total cholesterol and HDL-C levels were found to be low in 30.5% and 10.5% of the children respectively.. Dietary assessment showed almost all the children did not achieve the recommended energy intake for their age groups and almost half of the children did not achieve the RNI for selenium and vitamin A. This study provides an insight on the nutritional status of children living with HIV.

Topics: Adolescent; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Body Composition; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Deficiency Diseases; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Infant; Malaysia; Male; Nutritional Status; Selenium; Social Class; Vitamin A Deficiency

A cross-sectional study was carried out on 241 primary schoolchildren in Pahang, Malaysia to update their vitamin A status and to investigate the association of poor vitamin A status with their health and socioeconomic factors. All children were screened for intestinal parasitic infections. Blood samples were collected and vitamin A status was assessed. Socioeconomic data were collected by using pre-tested questionnaires. The results showed that 66 (27.4%) children had low serum retinol levels (< 0.70 micromol/L). Giardiasis and severe ascariasis were significantly associated with low serum retinol levels (P = 0.004 and P = 0.018, respectively). Logistic regression confirmed the significant association of giardiasis with low serum retinol (odds ratio = 2.7, 95% confidence interval = 1.3-5.5). In conclusion, vitamin A deficiency is still a public health problem in rural Malaysia. Vitamin A supplementation and treatment of intestinal parasitic infections should be distributed periodically to these children to improve their health and nutritional status.

Topics: Child; Female; Giardiasis; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Rural Population; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency

Vitamin A deficiency and malnutrition are still considered public health problems in rural areas of developing countries, including Malaysia. A cross-sectional exploration study was carried out on 281 Orang Asli (Aborigine) children aged between 2 and 15 years in Selangor, Malaysia. The overall prevalence of low serum retinol (<70 micromol/l) and hypoalbuminaemia (<35 g/l) were 25.2 and 7.8%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that severe ascariasis, significant stunting and giardiasis were significantly associated with low concentration of serum retinol. As well as intestinal parasitic infections, low socio-economic status was a significant predictor of hypoalbuminaemia. Logistic regression analysis identified severe ascariasis and significant stunting as predictors of low serum retinol, while mixed intestinal parasitic infection and low household income were predictors of hypoalbuminaemia. In conclusion, control measures for intestinal parasitic infections should be included as one of the strategies for the prevention and control of malnutrition and vitamin A deficiency in this population.

Topics: Adolescent; Ascariasis; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Feces; Female; Giardiasis; Humans; Hypoalbuminemia; Logistic Models; Malaysia; Male; Prevalence; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency

A cross-sectional study to examine the association of giardiasis with protein-energy malnutrition, vitamin A deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia was conducted among Orang Asli children in Selangor, Malaysia. A total of 281 children aged 2-15 years were studied. The data were collected using structured questionnaires, anthropometric measurements and laboratory analysis of blood and faecal samples. The results showed that 24.9% of the children were infected with Giardia duodenalis, while 56.5, 61.3 and 15.1% had significant underweight, stunting and wasting, respectively. Giardiasis was statistically identified as a strong predictor of significant wasting in this study population.

Topics: Adolescent; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Giardiasis; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Prevalence; Protein-Energy Malnutrition; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vitamin A Deficiency

This study determined the prevalence of ocular manifestation of vitamin A deficiency in Orang Asli (Aborigine) children. Night blindness was found in 16.0% of the children, conjunctiva xerosis in 57.3%, Bitot's spot in 2.8%, corneal xerosis in 0.5% and corneal scars in 5.6%. These findings show that history of night blindness had sensitivity, specificity and predictive value (positive) of 47.2, 98.1 and 96.2%, respectively, compared with the standard diagnosis procedure using luxometer readings.

Topics: Adolescent; Age Distribution; Child; Child, Preschool; Eye Diseases; Female; Humans; Infant; Malaysia; Male; Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; Night Blindness; Racial Groups; Sex Distribution; Vitamin A Deficiency

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Ascorbic Acid Deficiency; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Malaysia; Male; Nutrition Disorders; Protein-Energy Malnutrition; Riboflavin Deficiency; Rural Health; Thiamine Deficiency; Vitamin A Deficiency

Topics: Child; Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Diet Surveys; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Vitamin A Deficiency

Topics: Animals; Child; Child, Preschool; Culture; Diet; Fish Products; Fishes; Fruit; Humans; Liver; Malaysia; Medicine, Traditional; Night Blindness; Nutrition Surveys; Socioeconomic Factors; Vitamin A Deficiency

Topics: BCG Vaccine; Child; China; Dental Caries; Diphtheria; Ethnicity; Feces; Female; Humans; Immunization; India; Lice Infestations; Malaysia; Male; Morbidity; Nematoda; Poliomyelitis; Scabies; School Health Services; Smallpox; Socioeconomic Factors; Tetanus; Vitamin A Deficiency; Whooping Cough

Topics: Blood; Blood Chemical Analysis; Blood Proteins; Child; Eye Manifestations; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Malaysia; Milk, Human; Pregnancy; Protein Deficiency; Umbilical Cord; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency

Topics: Animals; Culicidae; Eye; Humans; Malaysia; Vitamin A Deficiency