Dietary intake of preformed vitamin A and provitamin A carotenoids are not associated with serum retinol and carotenoid concentrations among children 36–59 months of age in rural Burkina Faso: a cross-sectional study

Purpose This study aimed to assess the association between dietary intake of preformed vitamin A (VA) and pro-VA carotenoids and serum retinol and carotenoid concentrations among 36–59-month-old children in a rural area in Burkina Faso. Methods Two community-based cross-sectional studies were conducted in a rural area of Burkina Faso and included 115 children aged 36–59 months. Dietary intake of preformed VA and pro-VA was assessed directly by 24-h dietary recall. Serum retinol and carotenoid (α- and β-carotene, and β-cryptoxanthin) concentrations were measured. The associations between serum retinol and carotenoid concentrations and their respective dietary intake were assessed by multiple linear regression. Results Geometric mean [95% CI] adjusted serum retinol concentration in children was 0.86 [0.81; 0.92] µmol/L. The prevalence of low adjusted serum retinol concentration (