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Serum vitamin A

Table 2.1.a. Serum vitamin A: Total population

Geometric mean and selected percentiles of serum concentrations (in µg/dL) for the total U.S. population aged 3 years and older, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2002.

Geometric mean
(95% conf. interval)

Selected percentiles (95% conf. interval)

Sample
size

5th

50th

95th

Males and Females

Total, 3 years and older

53.5

(52.7-54.3)

30.9

(30.3-31.7)

54.5

(53.6-55.4)

87.0

(85.8-88.4)

15819

3–5 years

33.1

(32.6-33.7)

22.7

(21.4-24.4)

33.7

(33.0-34.4)

46.5

(44.1-47.8)

782

6–11 years

36.3

(35.7-37.0)

26.0

(24.8-26.3)

36.4

(35.7-37.1)

51.2

(49.4-52.6)

1880

12–19 years

47.0

(46.3-47.6)

30.8

(30.1-31.4)

47.4

(46.6-48.0)

70.6

(68.9-72.1)

4317

20–39 years

53.6

(52.6-54.6)

33.6

(32.5-34.6)

54.6

(53.5-55.6)

82.3

(80.3-83.8)

3177

40–59 years

59.7

(58.8-60.6)

37.1

(35.0-38.7)

60.6

(59.4-61.4)

92.6

(88.9-95.2)

2665

60 years and older

63.8

(62.9-64.7)

40.2

(38.1-41.4)

64.5

(63.2-65.3)

98.8

(95.6-102)

2998

Males

Total, 3 years and older

56.3

(55.3-57.3)

31.7

(30.8-32.9)

58.1

(56.9-59.3)

88.7

(86.5-91.2)

7701

3–5 years

32.9

(32.1-33.7)

21.9

(17.1-25.0)

33.9

(33.0-35.0)

45.4

(43.2-47.5)

410

6–11 years

36.1

(35.2-37.1)

26.0

(24.5-26.5)

36.1

(35.3-37.1)

51.3

(49.4-52.6)

956

12–19 years

49.1

(48.2-50.1)

32.1

(30.9-33.8)

49.8

(48.8-50.9)

71.3

(69.3-72.9)

2164

20–39 years

58.4

(57.5-59.4)

40.3

(39.0-41.6)

59.0

(58.0-60.1)

83.5

(80.9-85.5)

1349

40–59 years

64.6

(63.3-65.9)

42.4

(40.4-44.3)

66.0

(65.0-67.7)

95.3

(92.8-98.4)

1332

60 years and older

65.4

(63.9-66.9)

41.2

(38.7-42.7)

66.1

(64.6-68.2)

101

(96.4-106)

1490

Females

Total, 3 years and older

50.9

(50.1-51.7)

30.3

(29.4-31.1)

50.9

(50.1-51.8)

85.2

(83.3-87.2)

8118

3–5 years

33.4

(32.7-34.1)

24.1

(22.2-25.3)

33.1

(32.5-34.5)

47.1

(44.7-49.7)

372

6–11 years

36.5

(35.8-37.2)

26.2

(24.7-26.9)

36.7

(36.1-37.5)

50.4

(49.0-52.2)

924

12–19 years

44.8

(43.9-45.6)

29.7

(29.0-30.9)

44.7

(43.5-45.9)

68.8

(66.0-71.9)

2153

20–39 years

49.2

(48.1-50.4)

30.7

(29.7-31.8)

49.1

(47.3-50.7)

80.8

(78.0-82.4)

1828

40–59 years

55.3

(54.3-56.3)

34.4

(32.4-35.4)

55.5

(54.2-56.4)

87.3

(84.8-91.3)

1333

60 years and older

62.6

(61.6-63.6)

39.4

(36.2-41.4)

63.0

(62.0-64.4)

96.8

(92.0-101)

1508

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Table 2.1.b. Serum vitamin A: Mexican Americans 

Geometric mean and selected percentiles of serum concentrations (in µg/dL) for Mexican Americans in the U.S. population aged 3 years and older, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2002.

Geometric mean
(95% conf. interval)

Selected percentiles (95% conf. interval)

Sample
size

5th

50th

95th

Males and Females

Total, 3 years and older

46.8

(46.0-47.7)

28.1

(27.2-28.9)

47.1

(46.0-48.1)

75.6

(73.7-77.8)

4662

3–5 years

31.6

(30.7-32.6)

22.6

(21.7-23.8)

31.9

(30.2-33.7)

43.2

(40.4-45.6)

261

6–11 years

35.4

(34.8-36.0)

24.6

(23.8-26.2)

35.6

(34.9-36.2)

48.9

(47.2-50.8)

644

12–19 years

44.8

(44.2-45.5)

30.7

(28.7-31.9)

45.0

(44.1-45.8)

64.6

(63.6-65.9)

1626

20–39 years

50.6

(49.6-51.6)

31.9

(29.8-33.5)

50.9

(49.0-52.8)

75.2

(73.8-77.8)

866

40–59 years

52.8

(51.4-54.3)

32.5

(30.4-35.0)

53.9

(52.4-55.3)

83.7

(78.8-87.4)

628

60 years and older

55.9

(52.9-59.2)

34.0

(31.2-36.5)

55.3

(52.2-59.9)

91.0

(82.4-107)

637

Males

Total, 3 years and older

50.6

(49.7-51.6)

29.8

(28.8-30.5)

51.7

(50.5-53.2)

79.1

(77.0-82.4)

2277

3–5 years

32.5

(30.6-34.5)

22.4†

(20.1-25.0)

32.9

(30.7-34.5)

45.2†

(41.1-51.2)

136

6–11 years

35.4

(34.6-36.2)

24.6

(23.2-27.1)

35.4

(34.5-36.2)

49.2

(45.9-51.3)

333

12–19 years

48.1

(47.1-49.1)

33.7

(32.1-34.9)

48.3

(47.0-49.7)

67.8

(65.6-69.7)

807

20–39 years

56.6

(55.3-57.9)

39.3

(37.4-41.9)

57.5

(55.8-59.1)

78.3

(75.2-86.5)

382

40–59 years

57.9

(55.9-59.9)

36.3

(32.4-40.4)

57.9

(56.1-60.2)

87.4

(83.0-95.3)

298

60 years and older

57.0

(54.3-60.0)

35.3

(33.1-37.1)

55.5

(52.9-61.3)

93.4

(79.8-118)

321

Females

Total, 3 years and older

43.0

(42.1-43.9)

27.0

(26.1-27.8)

42.6

(41.5-43.6)

69.8

(65.7-73.1)

2385

3–5 years

30.8

(29.4-32.2)

22.6†

(20.3-24.7)

30.4

(27.9-33.3)

40.0†

(38.9-43.7)

125

6–11 years

35.3

(34.4-36.3)

23.8

(23.1-26.5)

35.9

(34.7-36.7)

48.6

(47.2-51.2)

311

12–19 years

41.5

(40.8-42.3)

28.4

(26.9-30.8)

41.1

(40.5-41.5)

60.3

(57.6-62.2)

819

20–39 years

44.3

(43.1-45.5)

28.7

(26.4-30.7)

44.6

(42.8-46.3)

69.1

(63.4-72.8)

484

40–59 years

48.1

(46.4-49.9)

30.6

(25.7-34.1)

48.1

(46.4-50.1)

74.7

(68.3-77.1)

330

60 years and older

55.0

(51.2-59.0)

31.8

(27.8-39.3)

54.8

(51.3-59.9)

90.0

(82.9-99.0)

316

† Estimate is subject to greater uncertainty due to small cell size.

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Table 2.1.c. Serum vitamin A: Non-Hispanic blacks 

Geometric mean and selected percentiles of serum concentrations (in µg/dL) for non-Hispanic blacks in the U.S. population aged 3 years and older, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2002.

Geometric mean
(95% conf. interval)

Selected percentiles (95% conf. interval)

Sample
size

5th

50th

95th

Males and Females

Total, 3 years and older

46.0

(45.1-47.0)

27.3

(26.3-27.9)

45.7

(44.4-47.1)

79.3

(75.9-81.6)

3680

3–5 years

31.8

(30.6-33.1)

21.6

(19.3-23.9)

32.1

(30.8-33.3)

44.6

(41.6-47.9)

226

6–11 years

35.0

(34.1-35.9)

23.7

(21.9-25.6)

35.1

(34.0-36.5)

50.5

(48.2-52.2)

591

12–19 years

41.4

(40.6-42.2)

27.9

(26.7-28.6)

41.7

(40.6-42.6)

61.9

(60.2-64.1)

1252

20–39 years

46.1

(44.8-47.5)

28.4

(27.6-30.7)

46.8

(45.2-48.5)

72.0

(67.7-74.6)

590

40–59 years

52.2

(50.4-54.1)

30.6

(27.3-34.0)

52.1

(50.6-54.0)

87.3

(80.6-95.6)

540

60 years and older

58.6

(56.6-60.6)

33.5

(31.2-36.7)

59.0

(56.8-60.4)

102

(93.4-117)

481

Males

Total, 3 years and older

48.5

(47.6-49.5)

27.9

(26.9-28.7)

49.6

(48.5-50.7)

80.7

(77.6-84.3)

1806

3–5 years

32.7

(31.2-34.2)

22.6†

(19.3-24.9)

32.7

(31.0-34.6)

45.4†

(41.9-53.6)

119

6–11 years

34.5

(33.5-35.5)

24.2

(20.8-25.5)

34.4

(33.2-35.6)

50.7

(47.2-54.3)

297

12–19 years

43.7

(42.7-44.6)

28.7

(28.0-30.0)

43.5

(42.4-44.6)

64.8

(62.6-67.5)

640

20–39 years

51.7

(50.1-53.4)

34.3

(28.8-37.8)

53.2

(51.2-55.2)

74.8

(70.3-79.6)

246

40–59 years

56.3

(53.8-58.9)

34.4

(30.2-38.1)

56.3

(53.1-59.3)

92.9

(80.8-107)

274

60 years and older

59.3

(56.1-62.7)

34.9

(30.0-39.9)

58.5

(53.5-62.8)

106

(87.7-144)

230

Females

Total, 3 years and older

44.0

(42.7-45.3)

26.7

(25.5-27.9)

42.9

(41.9-43.9)

75.6

(72.6-80.4)

1874

3–5 years

30.9

(29.3-32.6)

19.5†

(16.1-23.6)

31.7

(29.9-33.1)

42.7†

(38.6-45.7)

107

6–11 years

35.5

(34.3-36.7)

23.6

(21.5-26.7)

36.0

(34.3-37.6)

50.4

(48.0-52.2)

294

12–19 years

39.2

(38.3-40.1)

26.0

(24.5-27.5)

39.5

(38.5-40.7)

56.8

(54.5-59.0)

612

20–39 years

42.3

(40.4-44.2)

27.6

(24.7-29.1)

41.7

(39.8-43.8)

66.3

(62.0-72.4)

344

40–59 years

48.9

(46.5-51.4)

29.3

(25.2-31.5)

47.7

(44.5-51.1)

82.0

(74.4-92.0)

266

60 years and older

58.1

(55.3-61.1)

32.9

(30.2-36.8)

59.4

(56.8-61.2)

97.8

(86.7-115)

251

† Estimate is subject to greater uncertainty due to small cell size.

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Table 2.1.d. Serum vitamin A: Non-Hispanic whites 

Geometric mean and selected percentiles of serum concentrations (in µg/dL) for non-Hispanic whites in the U.S. population aged 3 years and older, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2002.

Geometric mean
(95% conf. interval)

Selected percentiles (95% conf. interval)

Sample
size

5th

50th

95th

Males and Females

Total, 3 years and older

56.3

(55.3-57.4)

33.1

(32.1-34.2)

57.3

(56.2-58.8)

88.9

(87.4-90.9)

6128

3–5 years

34.0

(33.1-34.8)

24.0†

(21.4-25.8)

34.2

(33.0-35.7)

47.2†

(44.1-49.7)

217

6–11 years

36.8

(35.9-37.7)

26.5

(25.4-28.3)

36.7

(35.8-37.9)

51.3

(49.0-52.7)

489

12–19 years

49.0

(47.9-50.0)

32.6

(31.3-34.2)

49.0

(48.0-50.0)

72.9

(70.9-75.0)

1073

20–39 years

56.1

(54.8-57.4)

36.1

(34.6-37.6)

57.0

(55.0-58.7)

83.9

(81.9-86.8)

1377

40–59 years

62.0

(60.9-63.1)

40.1

(38.1-42.0)

63.1

(61.5-64.3)

93.5

(90.3-96.2)

1276

60 years and older

65.2

(64.3-66.2)

41.6

(40.1-43.1)

65.5

(64.4-67.5)

99.1

(96.1-102)

1696

Males

Total, 3 years and older

58.9

(57.6-60.2)

33.6

(32.0-35.1)

60.8

(59.3-62.9)

91.4

(88.7-93.5)

3001

3–5 years

33.4

(32.3-34.4)

21.4†

(17.1-25.8)

34.4

(32.7-36.6)

45.6†

(41.4-47.8)

115

6–11 years

36.6

(35.2-38.0)

26.2

(24.3-28.6)

36.4

(35.1-38.4)

52.2

(48.6-53.0)

257

12–19 years

50.6

(49.3-51.9)

32.4

(30.5-36.0)

51.0

(49.8-52.3)

72.9

(70.0-74.9)

535

20–39 years

60.4

(59.1-61.7)

41.7

(40.5-43.1)

60.4

(59.2-63.0)

84.8

(81.6-87.5)

575

40–59 years

66.6

(65.1-68.1)

44.5

(42.5-47.8)

68.2

(66.3-69.8)

96.2

(92.9-99.9)

665

60 years and older

66.8

(65.2-68.4)

42.0

(40.4-44.6)

67.9

(65.3-70.1)

101

(96.6-105)

854

Females

Total, 3 years and older

54.0

(52.9-55.2)

32.6

(31.6-34.1)

54.5

(52.8-55.8)

87.5

(85.9-89.4)

3127

3–5 years

34.7

(33.3-36.1)

26.2†

(24.0-27.8)

34.0

(32.5-36.3)

49.1†

(45.9-51.8)

102

6–11 years

37.0

(36.0-38.0)

26.2

(24.7-28.4)

36.8

(36.0-38.0)

50.2

(48.1-54.0)

232

12–19 years

47.3

(46.0-48.6)

33.2

(31.2-34.3)

46.9

(45.3-47.9)

72.1

(68.3-76.8)

538

20–39 years

52.2

(50.5-54.0)

34.1

(30.9-35.9)

51.7

(49.9-54.8)

83.1

(80.5-87.3)

802

40–59 years

57.7

(56.5-58.8)

36.0

(34.6-39.2)

57.2

(56.0-58.4)

88.8

(86.1-94.8)

611

60 years and older

64.1

(62.9-65.2)

41.4

(39.0-43.5)

64.5

(62.5-65.6)

97.4

(92.0-102)

842

† Estimate is subject to greater uncertainty due to small cell size.

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  • Page last reviewed: July 30, 2008
  • Page last updated: July 30, 2008
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