Serum retinol concentrations demonstrate high specificity after correcting for inflammation but questionable sensitivity compared with liver stores calculated from isotope dilution in determining vitamin A deficiency in Thai and Zambian children

摘要

Background: The WHO estimates that 190 million preschool children have vitamin A deficiency (VAD). Serum retinol (SR) concentration is a common indicator of vitamin A (VA) status, but SR is homeostatically controlled and suppressed during inflammation, which may lead to misdiagnosis.