Vitamin A supplementation but not deworming improves growth of malnourished preschool children in eastern Zaire.
J Nutr
; 128(8): 1320-7, 1998 Aug.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-9687551
A randomized controlled trial was conducted in eastern Zaire to assess the effects of high dose vitamin A supplementation and regular deparasitation on the growth of 358 moderately malnourished preschool children, discharged from the hospital. The treatment groups received either vitamin A (60 mg of oily solution of retinyl palmitate, 30 mg if aged <12 mo) every 6 mo or mebendazole (500 mg) every 3 mo; the control group received no supplementation. Anthropometric data were gathered at baseline and after 6 and 12 mo of follow-up. Serum retinol concentrations were measured at baseline and after 3 mo. The three groups did not differ in sociodemographic indicators, age and sex composition, nutritional status and serum retinol concentrations at baseline. In children who were vitamin A deficient at baseline, adjusted mean weight and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) increments were higher in the vitamin A-supplemented group than in the control group [annual increment in weight and MUAC in vitamin A vs. control group: 2.088 vs. 1.179 kg (P = 0.029) and 2.24 vs. 0.95 cm (P = 0.012), respectively], whereas growth increment did not differ between the dewormed group and the control group. In children who were not vitamin A deficient at baseline, growth increment did not differ between the vitamin A-supplemented and control groups, whereas weight gain was lower in the dewormed group than in the control group. Vitamin A-supplemented boys gained more weight and height than control boys, whereas vitamin A-supplemented girls gained less height than control girls. Dewormed boys and girls gained less weight than control boys and girls. Programs to improve vitamin A status by high dose vitamin A supplementation may improve growth of preschool children who are vitamin A deficient, whereas deworming does not.
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Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Ascariasis
/
Tricuriasis
/
Vitamina A
/
Aumento de Peso
/
Desnutrición Proteico-Calórica
/
Suplementos Dietéticos
Tipo de estudio:
Clinical_trials
Límite:
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Male
/
Newborn
País/Región como asunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Nutr
Año:
1998
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Bélgica
Pais de publicación:
Estados Unidos