Vitamin A and zinc levels in socioeconomically disadvantaged children with community-acquired pneumonia

Volume: 47 Number: 3 September 1, 2008
  • Saç R
  • Doğan F
  • Saraçoğlu D
  • Taşar M A
  • Bostancı İ
  • Dallar Y
EN TR

Vitamin A and zinc levels in socioeconomically disadvantaged children with community-acquired pneumonia

Abstract

Introduction: Among preventive measures from childhood pneumonia nutritional factors, supplementation zinc and vitamin A, preventing passive smoking, improving socioeconomic conditions and immunization exist. We aimed to determine the nutritional status, investigate social conditions, frequency of vitamin A and zinc deficiencies in children which were hospitalized with the diagnose of community-acquired pneumonia. Materials and Methods: Sixty children, who were hospitalized during January 2006 to January 2007, were included in the study, by cross-sectional method. Results: Thirty (50%) were girls. Mean age was 3.7±3.6 years (min-max: 1 month-14 years). Socioeconomic levels were low in 73.3%, 38.3% were passive smokers and 33.3% were breast-fed less than six months. Mean levels of vitamin A were 1.0±0.5 µmol/L (min-max: 0.20-2.35), and zinc were 15.4±5.1 µmol/L (min-max: 8.9-31.5). Vitamin A levels were low in 18 (30%) and zinc in 5 (8.3%). Low vitamin A levels were associated with inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption (p=0.002). Low zinc levels were seen in 0-2 year group (p=0.01). Malnutrition was not determined in any case. Lower weight and height percentiles were associated with longer hospital stay (p=0.09). Conclusions: Vitamin A supplementation was offered to children with pneumonia. Also, zinc deficiency should be considered in infancy. Passive smoking should be prevented, education of mothers and population is crucial.

Keywords

Details

Primary Language

Turkish

Subjects

-

Journal Section

-

Authors

Saç R

Doğan F

Saraçoğlu D

Taşar M A

Bostancı İ

Dallar Y

Publication Date

September 1, 2008

Submission Date

September 1, 2008

Acceptance Date

-

Published in Issue

Year 2008 Volume: 47 Number: 3

Vancouver
1.Saç R, Doğan F, Saraçoğlu D, Taşar M A, Bostancı İ, Dallar Y. Sosyoekonomik düzeyi düşük çocuklardaki toplum kaynaklı pnömonilerde A vitamini ve çinko düzeyleri. EJM [Internet]. 2008 Sep. 1;47(3):177-81. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA89ZM83AR

Ege Journal of Medicine enables the sharing of articles according to the Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) license.