Abstract
We have recently demonstrated a correlation (r = 0.64; p<0.001) between nocturnal GH secretion and plasma vitamine A levels in 68 french short prepubertal children (aged 4 to 12) without organic disease. 25 of these children had a vitaminA/ Retinal Binding Protein ratio <0.6, pointing to a relative vitamine A deficiency. In order to assess the possibility of an inadequate dietary vitamine A, vitamin A supply was estimated as mean dialy intake over a one year period in 56 short children compared to a group of age matched normal children (n=56). Vitamine A intake was significantly lower(p<0.001) in children with short stature(mean±SD 659±600 uG/day) as compared with normal children. (1305 ± 999). Interestingly vitamin A intake was significantly (p<0.01)lower (mean ± SD: 459± 192 ug/day) in 10 children with neurosecretory dysfunction, i.e. impaired nocturnal GH secretion and normal GH peaks to 2 stimulation test than in 17 short children with normal physiological and stimulated GH secretion (mean± SD: 886± 583 ug/day). This suggests that a relative vitamin A deficiency due to inadequate dietary intake might be involved in the GH neurosecretory dysfunction in some children with short stature in industrialized countries.
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Evain-Brion, P., Paulsen, A., Grenèche, M. et al. LOW VITAMINE A INTAKE IN CHILDREN WITH SHORT STATURE. Pediatr Res 33 (Suppl 5), S63 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00359
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00359
