EFFECT OF VITAMIN-A SUPPLEMENTATION ON DIARRHEA AND ACUTE LOWER-RESPIRATORY-TRACT INFECTIONS IN YOUNG-CHILDREN IN BRAZIL

Article

关键词: A SUPPLEMENTATION;    CHILDHOOD MORTALITY;    SOUTHERN INDIA;    XEROPHTHALMIA;    MORBIDITY;    NORTHEAST;    EPISODES;    PARAIBA;    IMPACT;    STATE;   

DOI  :  10.1016/S0140-6736(94)92998-X

来源: SCIE

【 摘 要 】

A beneficial effect of periodic Vitamin A supplementation on childhood mortality has been demonstrated, but the effect on morbidity is less clear. We investigated the effect of vitamin A supplementation on diarrhoea and acute lower-respiratoty-tract infections (ALRI) in children from northeastern Brazil in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled community trial. 1240 children aged 6-48 months were assigned vitamin A or placebo every 4 months for 1 year. They were followed up at home three times a week, and data about the occurrence and severity of diarrhoea and ALRI were collected. Any child with cough and respiratory rate above 40 breaths per min was visited by a paediatrician. The overall incidence of diarrhoea episodes was significantly lower in the vitamin-A-supplemented group than in the placebo group (18.42 vs 19.58 x 10(-3) child-days; rate ratio 0.94 [95% Cl 0.90-0.9 8]). The benefit of supplementation was greater as regards severe episodes of diarrhoea; the incidence was 20% lower in the vitamin A group than in the placebo group (rate ratio 0.80 [0.65-0.98]). With the standard definition of diarrhoea (greater than or equal to 3 liquid or semi-liquid stools in 24 h) the effect of vitamin A on mean daily prevalence did not reach significance, but as the definition of diarrhoea was made more stringent (increasing number of stools per day), a significant benefit became apparent, reaching for diarrhoea with 6 or more liquid or semi-liquid stools in 24 h a 23% lower prevalence. We found no effect of vitamin A supplementation on the incidence of ALRI. The reduction in severity of diarrhoea may be the most important factor in the lowering of mortality by vitamin A supplementation.

【 授权许可】

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