Effect of acute phase response on indicators of vitamin A status in preschool children

【Objective】 To estimate the effect of acute phase response on indicators of vitamin A status,including serum retinol,retinol binding protein(RBP),transthyretin(TTR) and the molar ratio of retinol binding protein to transthyretin. 【Method】 About 350 preschool children from 4 kindergartens were selected to measure the concentration of serum retinol by HPLC,retinol binding protein by ELISA,transthyretin and C-reactive protein(CRP) by immunoturbidimetry and to analyses the correlation among these indicators. 【Results】 The level of RBP in children with marginal vitamin A deficiency(MVAD) was significantly lower than that of children with normal vitamin A(NVA) status(P0.01).The contents of TTR in children with MVAD and VAD were both lower than that of children with normal vitamin A status(P0.01).The molar ratios of RBP:TTR in children with VAD,MVAD and NVA status were(0.42±0.44),(0.37±0.24) and(0.43±0.23),respectively.The molar ratios of RBP∶TTR in children with marginal vitamin A deficiency was lower than that of in children with normal vitamin A status(P0.05).Children with the insufficient serum retinol concentration and elevated CRP level had the significantly lowest value of RBP∶TTR molar ratio(P0.05) and children with NVA and normal CRP level had the highest value of RBP∶TTR molar ratio among these groups but not significantly. 【Conclusion】 The molar ration of retinol-binding protein to transthyretin may be a useful indicator to assess vitamin A status during infection in preschool children but needs more study to support.