【Objective】 To explore the correlation of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and vitamin A metabolic index,including serum retinol,serum retinol binding protein (RBP),serum transthyretin (TTR) and the molar ratio of RBP to TTR[R-T index,RBP(mol/L)/TTR(mol/L)]. 【Methods】 About 473 preschool children with 2~7 years old were randomly selected from eight kindergartens,including 223 boys and 250 girls with (47.8±14.5) months.Serum retinol was measured by HPLC method,NGAL and RBP by ELISA and TTR by immunoturbidimetric method. 【Results】 There were significant negative correlations between NGAL and retinol and R-T index(The partial correlation coefficients were 0.21 and 0.25;P all<0.000 1).The value of serum NGAL in children with normal vitamin A was markedly lower than that of children with unnormal vitamin A (P<0.05).Children with low R-T index level (cut by R-T index media value) had higher serum NGAL level than those with high R-T index level (P<0.05);However,no significant difference was observed between children with high and low RBP/TTR levels (P>0.05).The serum retinol and R-T index levels in children with Q1 RBP value group (cut by RBP 4 quartile level) was significantly higher than those of children with Q4 RBP value group (P<0.05),but not for serum RBP and TTR values (P>0.05). 【Conclusion】 There is close relation between serum NGAL and vitamin A status in preschool children and vitamin A may be able to inhibit the expression of NGAL which against the inhibition of NGAL on hematopoietic system.