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Intakes of retinol and carotenoids and its determining factors in the Red River Delta population of northern Vietnam

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 62, pages 810–816 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To describe the household intakes of retinol and carotenoids and social economic factors determining their intakes.

Subjects:

Data on a total of 1001 households (771 in rural areas and 230 in urban areas) were used in the analyses. Interviewed person was household food preparer.

Results:

Mean (s.d.) intake of carotenoids was 4178 (3154) μg/capita/day in rural and 4208 (3408) μg/capita/day in urban areas and intake of retinol was 101 (275) μg/capita/day in rural and 201 (470) μg/capita/day in urban areas. Multivariate analyses show that the subjects in households with four or more members consume about 700 μg carotenoids less compared to households with less than three members. Households with a higher expenditure (fourth quartile) consumed about 100 μg retinol/day more than those with a lower expenditure (first quartile).

Conclusion:

Carotenoids from plant food sources is the main source of vitamin A intake of the population and its main determinants are household expenditure and size of household. Food fortification and dietary diversification with special emphasis on promotion of consumption of animal foods should be key strategies for overcoming vitamin A deficiency in Vietnam.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the staff of the Centers for Preventive Medicine in the provinces Hanoi, Hai Phong, Hatay, Haiduong, Namdinh, Hanam, Thai Binh and Ninhbinh for their support in data collection. We thank Dr Nguyen Thanh Chung from the General Statistic Office of Vietnam who advised on the sampling method and provided relevant documentation. The advice of Dr Paul Deurenberg, Nutrition Consultant in Singapore on the preparation of the paper is highly appreciated. This study received financial support from the Government of Vietnam (Ministry of Planning and Investment) within the frame work of the National Plan of Action for Nutrition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Nutrition, Hanoi, Vietnam

    N C Khan, L B Mai, N D Minh, T T Do & H H Khoi

  2. Division of Nutrition, Hanoi School of Public Health, Hanoi, Vietnam

    N C Khan

  3. Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    C E West & J G A J Hautvast

Authors
  1. N C Khan
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  2. L B Mai
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  3. N D Minh
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  4. T T Do
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  5. H H Khoi
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  6. C E West
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  7. J G A J Hautvast
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Correspondence to N C Khan.

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Khan, N., Mai, L., Minh, N. et al. Intakes of retinol and carotenoids and its determining factors in the Red River Delta population of northern Vietnam. Eur J Clin Nutr 62, 810–816 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602782

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