Serum Vitamin A Levels and Xerophthalmia among Children with Protein Energy Malnutrition in Zaria, Northwest Nigeria.

Background: Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) is one of the major risk factors for vitamin A deficiency (VAD), which may be complicated by xerophthalmia. There have been several interventions employed to tackle VAD in our environment. However, there are limited recent local studies assessing the interplay between VAD and the burden of xerophthalmia in under-five children with PEM. The study aims to determine the association between serum vitamin A levels and xerophthalmia among under-five children with PEM. Methodology: This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted among 200 children between the ages of 6 to 59 months newly diagnosed with protein-energy malnutrition at the study centre. Data was collected using a structured proforma, which included sociodemographic variables and ocular examination findings. Blood samples were collected to analyse serum vitamin A levels using an ELISA kit (Aviva systems®). Result: There were 153 (76.5%) children with PEM who had low serum vitamin A levels. Xerophthalmia was found in 12 (6%) children. Xerophthalmia was only seen in those with low serum vitamin A and was statistically significantly higher in children with very low levels of vitamin A (1.5% vs 12.9%, p = 0.002). Blinding forms of xerophthalmia were seen in 3 (1.5%) of the children. Conclusion: The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency and xerophthalmia is still considerably high and of public health significance among children with PEM in our environment.