Overall, 30% (59/195) of the children tested were zinc deficient (plasma zinc <647μg/l), 22% (42/194) had mild vitamin A deficiency (plasma retinol <0.70 μmol/l), and 14% (27/195) had plasma selenium levels below the recommended level for maximal activity of glutathione peroxidase and selenoprotein P (plasma selenium concentration >1.2 μmol). This evidence concerns the gene SELENOP and vitamin A deficiency.