Vitamin B-12, folic acid, and growth in 6- to 30-month-old children: a randomized controlled trial.
Pediatrics
; 135(4): e918-26, 2015 Apr.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25802345
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Folate and vitamin B-12 are important for growth. Many children in low- and middle-income countries have inadequate intakes of these nutrients.METHODS:
We undertook a randomized, placebo controlled double-blind trial in 1000 North Indian children, 6 to 35 months of age, providing twice the recommended daily allowance of folic acid and/or vitamin B-12, or placebo, daily for 6 months. By using a factorial design, we allocated children in a 1111 ratio in blocks of 16. We measured the effect of giving vitamin B-12, folic acid, or the combination of both on linear and ponderal growth. We also identified predictors for growth in multiple linear regression models and effect modifiers for the effect of folic acid or vitamin B-12 supplementation on growth.RESULTS:
The overall effect of either of the vitamins was significant only for weight; children who received vitamin B-12 increased their mean weight-for-age z scores by 0.07 (95% confidence interval 0.01 to 0.13). Weight-for-age z scores and height-for-age z scores increased significantly after vitamin B-12 supplementation in wasted, underweight, and stunted children. These subgrouping variables significantly modified the effect of vitamin B-12 on growth. Vitamin B-12 status at baseline predicted linear and ponderal growth in children not receiving vitamin B-12 supplements but not in those who did (P-interaction < .001).CONCLUSIONS:
We provide evidence that poor vitamin B-12 status contributes to poor growth. We recommend studies with larger doses and longer follow-up to confirm our findings.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Vitamina B 12
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Estatura
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Peso Corporal
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Países em Desenvolvimento
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Ácido Fólico
Tipo de estudo:
Clinical_trials
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Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Child, preschool
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Female
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Humans
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Infant
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Male
País/Região como assunto:
Asia
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Pediatrics
Ano de publicação:
2015
Tipo de documento:
Article