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Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique logoLink to Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique
. 2008 Mar 1;99(2):102–106. doi: 10.1007/BF03405454

Neonatal Vitamin A Deficiency and Its Impact on Acute Respiratory Infections among Preschool Inuit Children

Cynthia Cameron 16, Frédéric Dallaire 26, Carole Vézina 16, Gina Muckle 16, Suzanne Bruneau 16, Pierre Ayotte 16,26, Eric Dewailly 16,26,✉
PMCID: PMC6975672  PMID: 18457282

Abstract

Objective

To assess if vitamin A concentration in umbilical cord blood is associated with incidence and severity of respiratory infections in preschool Inuit children from Nunavik (Québec, Canada).

Method

The medical charts of 305 children were reviewed from 0 to 5 years of age. The association between vitamin A concentration in umbilical cord plasma and the incidence rates of acute otitis media (AOM), lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) and hospitalization rates for LRTIs was evaluated using Poisson regression.

Results

Compared to children with vitamin A concentration >-20 μg/dl, adjusted rate ratios (RR) for children below 20 μg/dl ranged between 1.06–1.62 for AOM, 1.12–1.34 for LRTIs, and 1.09–1.43 for hospitalization for LRTIs. Most RRs were statistically significant for AOM and LRTIs, but not for hospitalization for LRTIs.

Conclusion

Neonatal vitamin A deficiency appears to be a significant risk factor for AOM and LRTIs in this population.

Key words: Vitamin A deficiency, Inuits, nutritional status, respiratory tract infections, otitis media, infant, child, risk factor

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