TABLE 2.
Distributions of plasma vitamin and mineral indicators and prevalence of deficiency among children in rural Nepal (n = 1000)1
| Nutrient/indicator | Values2 | Prevalence of deficiency (95% CI)3 |
| % | ||
| Vitamin A | ||
| Retinol, μmol/L | 1.04 ± 0.27 | 8.5 (6.8, 10.2) |
| 55.3 (52.2, 58.4) | ||
| β-Carotene, μmol/L | 0.104 (0.059, 0.202) | 41.5 (38.4, 44.6) |
| Vitamin E | ||
| α-Tocopherol, μmol/L | 12.2 ± 3.3 | 17.9 (15.5, 20.3) |
| 52.1 (49.0, 55.2) | ||
| α-Tocopherol:cholesterol, μmol/mmol | 4.05 ± 0.85 | 0.6 (0.1, 1.1) |
| Vitamin D | ||
| 25(OH)D, nmol/L | 66.3 ± 18.5 | 17.2 (14.9, 19.5) |
| Vitamin K | ||
| PIVKA-II, μg/L | 1.34 (0.81, 1.88) | 20.4 (17.9, 22.9) |
| Vitamin B-6 | ||
| PLP, nmol/L | 23.9 ± 13.0 | 43.1 (40.0, 46.2) |
| Vitamin B-12 | ||
| Cobalamin, pmol/L | 225 (166, 304) | 18.1 (15.7, 20.5) |
| Folate | ||
| Folic acid, nmol/L | 23.3 (18.3, 29.9) | 6.2 (4.7, 7.7) |
| Iron | ||
| Ferritin, μg/L | 39.4 (24.1, 55.3) | 10.7 (8.7, 12.6) |
| TfR, mg/L | 7.8 (6.4, 9.4) | 40.1 (37.1, 43.1) |
| TfR:ferritin, μg/μg | 196 (124, 332) | 14.3 (12.1, 16.4) |
| Selenium | ||
| Total circulating selenium, μmol/L | 0.86 ± 0.27 | 59.0 (55.9, 62.0) |
| Copper | ||
| Total circulating copper, μmol/L | 23.5 ± 5.3 | 0.7 (0.2, 1.2) |
| Iodine | ||
| Thyroglobulin, μg/L | 16.9 (11.7, 25.4) | 11.4 (9.4, 13.3) |
| Presence of any deficiency (≥1) | — | 91.7 (90.0, 93.4) |
| Presence of multiple deficiencies (≥2) | — | 64.7 (61.7, 67.7) |
Missing values: n = 1 for PIVKA-II and cobalamin, n = 2 for folic acid, n = 5 for ferritin and thyroglobulin, n = 1 for selenium and copper, n = 9 for any and multiple deficiencies. PIVKA-II, protein induced in vitamin K absence; PLP, pyridoxal-5′-phosphate; TfR, transferrin receptor; 25(OH)D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D.
Values are means ± SDs or medians (IQRs) if distributions were skewed.
Cut-offs for deficiency: retinol <0.70 and <1.05 μmol/L, respectively; β-carotene <0.09 μmol/L; α-tocopherol <9.3 μmol/L and <12 μmol/L, respectively; α-tocopherol:cholesterol <2.2 μmol/mmol; 25(OH)D <50 nmol/L; PIVKA-II >2 μg/L; PLP <20 nmol/L; cobalamin <150 pmol/L; folic acid <13.6 nmol/L; ferritin <15 μg/L; TfR >8.3 mg/L; TfR:ferritin >500 μg/μg; selenium <0.89 μmol/L; copper <11.8 μmol/L; thyroglobulin >40 μg/L.