Seasonal dynamics of human retinol status in mobile pastoralists in Chad

- Retinol levels in mobile pastoralists varied according to season and ethnic group.
- Average retinol levels were lowest during the cold season.
- Arabs had lowest average values in all seasons.
- Pooled cattle milk retinol levels were positively associated to human retinol levels.
- Rapid analysis with portable technology is feasible under harsh climatic conditions.

Vitamin A deficiency is a prevalent public health problem in Africa and South-East Asia, although national population based surveys are lacking in many countries. This study investigated seasonal variation of human retinol concentrations in Chadian mobile pastoralists to identify critical time periods for interventions addressing vitamin A deficiency. The repeated cross-sectional study design used convenience sampling during three seasons to include 327 Fulani, Gorane and Arab adult mobile pastoralists in nine camps in the Lake Chad area. Human blood and pooled cattle milk retinol concentrations were rapidly assessed by portable flourometer (iCheck™). Linear regression models with random effects for correlation within camps were applied with human retinol concentration as outcome. Logistic regression models, with camp as random effect, were evaluated for the outcome human retinol deficiency. Human seasonal means were 2.14 μmol/L (95% CI 1.82-2.46) in rainy, 0.99 μmol/L (95% CI 0.91-1.07) in cold and 1.86 μmol/L (95% CI 1.63-2.09) in dry season. Retinol concentration and deficiency varied according to season and ethnic group. Average values were highest in Gorane during rainy and in Fulani in the cold and dry seasons. Arabs had lowest average values in all seasons. Retinol deficiency (<0.70 μmol/L) was found in 15% of study participants in the dry, 25% in the rainy and 32% in the cold season. Retinol concentrations varied according to age, sex, milk consumption level and pooled cattle milk retinol concentration. Effect sizes varied and not all were statistically significantly different. Pooled cattle milk retinol concentrations varied seasonally and were positively associated to human retinol concentrations. This study establishes seasonal variation in human blood and pooled cattle milk retinol concentrations in Chad, demonstrating a linkage from animals to humans through milk. Rapid analysis using portable technology is feasible in remote populations under harsh climatic conditions.

Frequency of retinol deficiency by season (thick bars) and ethnic group (thin bars: F=Fulani, G=Gorane, A=Arab).129