To determine the serum levels of three lipid-soluble antioxidants (retinol, β-carotene and α-tocopherol) in pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic (ANC) in Gondar, Ethiopia.

A cross-sectional study involving laboratory determination of serum levels of retinol, α-tocopherol and β-carotene using high-performance liquid chromatography and questionnaire-based assessment of socio-economic status.

ANC of a university teaching hospital.

Three hundred and twenty-two healthy pregnant women in their third trimester, who attended the ANC.

Mean serum levels of retinol, α-tocopherol and β-carotene were found to be 1.23±0.5, 25.5±0.9 and 0.21±0.09 μmol l−1, respectively. The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (<1.05 μmol l−1) among pregnant women was 38.5%. Women having low retinol (vitamin A) levels were highly likely to live in earth-floored and mud-walled houses, and less likely to own a house and to have a latrine.

The study shows that serum levels of lipid-soluble antioxidants were low among ANC attendees in northern Ethiopia. It also indicates that some socio-economic factors (such as poor housing standard) are associated with vitamin A deficiency.