@article{fdi:010053363,
  title = {{S}tatus of vitamins {A} and {E} in schoolchildren in the centre west of {T}unisia : a population-based study},
  author = {{F}ares, {S}. and {C}hahed, {M}. {K}. and {F}eki, {M}. and {B}eji, {C}. and {T}raissac, {P}ierre and {E}l {A}ti, {J}. and {K}aabachi, {N}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{O}bjective: {T}he present study was undertaken to assess the status of vitamins {A} and {E} ({VA} and {VE}, respectively) and their main determinants in {T}unisian children. {D}esign: {C}ross-sectional population-based study. {S}etting: {K}asserine {G}overnorate in the centre west of {T}unisia. {S}ubjects: {A} total of 7407 children attending the first grade of elementary school were included. {VA} and {VE} were assessed by {HPLC}. {R}esults: {T}he prevalence of moderate {VA} deficiency ({VAD}; < 0.70 mu mol/l) was 2.3% and {VE} deficiency ({VED}; < 6.97 mu mol/l) was 5.4%. {L}ow status in {VA} (0.70-1.05 mu mol/l) and {VE} (6.97-11.61 mu mol/l) was observed in 17% and 20.2% of children, respectively. {N}o child exhibited severe {VA} or {VE} deficiency (< 0.35 and < 2.32 mu mol/l, respectively). {T}he main predictors of {VAD} were advanced age ({OR} = 1.65; 95% {CI} 1.13, 2.41; {P}=0.05) and sickness within the past 2 weeks ({OR} = 1.51; 95% {CI} 1.09, 2.09; {P}=0.01). {P}redictors of {VED} were living in the pen-urban region ({OR} = 1.60; 95% {CI} 1.28, 2.01; {P} < 0001) and sickness within the past 2 weeks ({OR} = 0.75; 95% {CI} 0.60, 0.94; {P}=0.01). {C}onclusions: {M}oderate {VAD} and {VED} were uncommon in {T}unisian children. {H}owever, low status in {VA} and/or {VE} remains frequent. {A} reinforcement of the national strategies for children's nutrition and health is needed, particularly in disadvantaged regions. {S}upplementation of {VA} and {VE} is not necessary in {T}unisia, but food fortification may be beneficial.},
  keywords = {{C}hild ; {M}alnutrition ; {V}itamin {A} deficiency ; {V}itamin {E} deficiency},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}ublic {H}ealth {N}utrition},
  volume = {14},
  numero = {2},
  pages = {255--260},
  ISSN = {1368-9800},
  year = {2011},
  DOI = {10.1017/s1368980010001631},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010053363},
}