Author:

• Dixis Figueroa Pedraza - Pedraza, D.F - Campina Grande, PB - Universidade Estadual da Paraíba - <dixisfigueroa@gmail.com>
ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5394-828X

Co-author(s):

• Ana Carolina Dantas Rocha - ROCHA, ACD - Universidade Estadual da Paraíba (mestranda) - <aninhacdr@hotmail.com>
• Márcia Cristina Sales - Sales, M.C. - Natal, RN - Universidade Estadual da Paraíba (mestranda) - <cristina.salles@yahoo.com.br>

Thematic Area:

Alimentação, Nutrição e Saúde

Abstract:

Objective: To evaluate the association of iron, vitamin A and zinc deficiencies on linear growth retardation. Methods: A systematic review of electronic databases in PubMed, LILACS and SciELO. There were selected scientific papers published between January 1995 and March 2010, considering the keywords: (growth OR nutritional status) AND (child, preschool OR infant) AND (zinc AND iron AND vitamin A) OR (zinc AND iron) OR (zinc AND vitamin A) OR (iron AND vitamin A). Results: It was reviewed 14 observational design studies. From the cohort studies (two), one indicated a statistical association between iron status and stunting; and the other pointed out the statistical association between serum ferritin concentrations and the gain in height. Ten cross-sectional studies investigated the statistical association between micronutrient deficiencies and stunting, resulting three of them in association for iron, two for vitamin A and none for zinc. Conclusions: The clarification of the association between stunting and iron, vitamin A and zinc deficiencies involves difficulty by biological factors and related to the magnitude of these deficiencies, suggesting the importance of standardizing methodological of the studies. The findings show a preliminary overview about association between anemia and stunting.

Keywords:

linear growth height stunting iron vitamin A zinc

Content:

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