The prevalence of sub-clinical vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and anemia of lactating women (n = 113) and their breastfed infants aged 1--6 months was measured among a peri-urbanite South African sample. Mother's mean hemoglobin (Hb) was 12.4 +/- 1.3 g/dL with 32% anemia (Hb < 12g/dL). Retinol in serum was 49.8 +/- 13.2 mug/dL and 66.0 mug/dL (median) in breast milk; no evidence of sub-clinical VAD. Infants, 62% &le; 3 months, had mean Hb of 10.9 +/- 1.1 g/dL (with anemia present (<11g/dL), in 50%). Mean infant serum retinol was 26.9 +/- 7.2 mug/dL (10% prevalence of marginal VAD). No infants were exclusively breastfed. Weaning foods and breast milk substitutes were introduced early and infant intake of traditional medicines was common (52%). Our data suggest that anemia was present in both mothers and infants while VAD was evident only in infants. This early occurrence of micronutrient deficiencies may be attributed to less than optimal breastfeeding practices.

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