{
  "abstract": "Background\n\nVitamin A deficiency remains a clinically relevant nutritional issue, yet data on real-world testing patterns and vitamin A status in Korea are limited.Methods\n\nWe conducted a retrospective observational study analyzing serum vitamin A (retinol) test results performed for diagnostic purposes at a large referral laboratory in Korea between 2016 and 2024. Vitamin A deficiency (< 0.70 µmol/L) and testing patterns were evaluated by age, sex, calendar year, and referring institution type, and factors associated with deficiency were examined using multivariable logistic regression; population-level prevalence was additionally assessed using weighted data from KNHANES 2016-2018.Results\n\nA total of 15,042 serum vitamin A measurements from 9,608 individuals were analyzed. The overall prevalence of vitamin A deficiency was 7.6%. In the GC Labs population, vitamin A deficiency showed a U-shaped age distribution, with higher prevalence in younger age groups and in older adults, particularly those aged ≥ 80 years, who had the highest risk (adjusted odds ratio 9.52). Male sex and testing at public health centers were also independently associated with deficiency. In the KNHANES 2016-2018 population, the weighted prevalence of vitamin A deficiency was low (0.76%); however, a similar U-shaped age distribution was observed, with relatively higher prevalence in adolescents and older adults.Conclusions\n\nAlthough vitamin A deficiency does not represent a major public health burden in Korea, older adults and specific high-risk groups may be vulnerable. These findings provide a real-world overview of vitamin A testing practices and support targeted clinical and nutritional assessment in selected populations.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Laboratory Medicine Center, GC Labs, Yongin, 16924, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea. pirate0720@naver.com.",
    "Department of Laboratory Medicine and Genetics, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea. pirate0720@naver.com.",
    "Endocrine Substance Analysis Center (ESAC), GC Labs, Yongin, Gyeonggi, 16924, Republic of Korea. secho1206!!@gclabs.co.kr.",
    "Laboratory Medicine Center, GC Labs, Yongin, 16924, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea.",
    "Endocrine Substance Analysis Center (ESAC), GC Labs, Yongin, Gyeonggi, 16924, Republic of Korea."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Rihwa Choi",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-8266-2248"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Sung-Eun Cho",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-8082-3100"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3,
        4
      ],
      "name": "Sang Gon Lee",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-4672-5811"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0g4g1p0ft6m6d.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1186/s40795-026-01435-9",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13682156",
  "id": "0g4g1p0ft6m6d",
  "issns": [
    "2055-0928"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42902428",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "lcc",
      "R5-920"
    ],
    [
      "lcc",
      "TP368-456"
    ],
    [
      "lcc",
      "TX341-641"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1312|Retinoids in leukemia and cellular processes"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7170613965",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13682156?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13682156",
  "pmid": "42902428",
  "published": "2026-07-01",
  "publisher": "BMC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0g4g1p0ft6m6d.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:41Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42902428",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42902428"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T13:45:41Z",
      "native_id": "1f30bf9aac0f4f1194465a6e77d4faf8",
      "source": "doaj",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-026-01435-9"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:1312|Retinoids in leukemia and cellular processes",
      "subfield": "molecular-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Utilization of serum vitamin A testing and vitamin A deficiency in Korea.",
  "title_text": "Utilization of serum vitamin A testing and vitamin A deficiency in Korea.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T13:45:41Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0g4g1p0ft6m6d",
  "venue": "BMC nutrition",
  "versions": []
}