INQUÉRITO SÔBRE O ESTADO DE NUTRIÇÃO DE UM GRUPO DA POPULAÇÃO DA CIDADE DE SÃO PAULO. II- Investigações sôbre a ocorrência de hipovitaminose A

Abstract

This work was done in 4,208 individuais who have come to the Health Centers of São Paulo, accompanying patients. Among these individuais who considered themselves normais, a high incidence of physical signs and symptoms of hypovitaminosis A was found. The incidence of cutaneous signs (xerosis, follicular keratosis and scaling) was found to be greater in the lower than in the upper limbs. The same occurred in regard to the incidence of severe lesions. See tables VII, VIII, IX and X. A greater incidence of signs and symptoms of hypovitaminosis A was found in individuais presenting one or two signs or symptoms considered among those most characteristic of hypovitaminosis A. See tables XII, XIII,XIV, XV and graphs I, 11, III and IV. The results of biophotometric tests indicated that 56,9% of the 414 examined were not normais. The results may be seen in table XVI. The averages of the biophotometric tests were greater in the older groups. See table XVII. lt was noticed a progressive increase of the percentages of individuais considered "abnormals" by the biophotometric test in the older groups. See table XVIII. A greater incidence of signs and symptoms of hypovitaminosis A was found in those presenting "an abnormal" biophotometric index. See table XIX and graph V.