Vitamin A deficiency in pre-school age Congolese children during malarial attacks. Part 2: Impact of parasitic disease on vitamin A status.

The vitamin A status of 454 pre-school age Congolese children was evaluated by the impression cytology method with transfer (ICT) and by the determination of plasma retinol. During malarial attacks, the vitamin A status is abnormal (deficient or marginal) in 40.8% of the children according to the ICT test and in 37.5% of the children who have plasma levels of retinol lower than 10 micrograms/dl. The mean concentration of plasma retinol in patients during malarial attacks (14.8 +/- 9.5 micrograms/dl) is significantly lower than the values found in other subjects (31.5 +/- 14.3 micrograms/dl) (p less than 0.001). A significant correlation was established between the results of the ICT test and two biochemical parameters (retinol, transthyretin). We conclude that there is a significant relationship between vitamin A deficiency and a malarial attack.