Rétinol sérique versus techniques d’isotopes stables, dans l’évaluation du statut en vitamine A des enfants de 36 à 59 mois dans un milieu rural a endémie palustre du Burkina Faso

Introduction: Despite the existence of several diagnostic methods, the assessment of vitamin A (VA) status in children remains a challenge in localities where VA deficiency and infection coexist. The study aimed to assess the VA status in children 36-59 months of age living in rural malaria-endemic areas in Burkina Faso using stable isotope techniques compared to serum retinol, a technique commonly used in the diagnosis of VA deficiency. Material and methods: Two cross-sectional surveys were conducted during the dry and rainy seasons in the health area of the Sourkoudougou. They included 115 children of both sexes aged 36 to 59 months. VA status was assessed using serum retinol, liver reserves (LR) and total VA reserves (TLR). Results: The mean serum retinol concentration (standard deviation) was 0.83 (± 0.25) µmol/L and 27.19% of children had a serum retinol concentration 1.0 mol/L/g liver). Conclusion: This study shows, in this malaria-endemic locality, a difference in the prevalence of VA deficiency according to the test use