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Antioxidant vitamins improves hemoglobin level in children with group a beta hemolytic streptococcal infection
1Clinical Pathologist, National Center for Control of Rheumatic Fever and Heart Diseases, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar,Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh.
Insights
Antioxidant vitamins improved hemoglobin levels in children with Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infections. Supplementation alongside penicillin treatment led to significant hemoglobin increases, unlike penicillin alone.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) infections are common in school-aged children.
- Hemoglobin levels can be affected by chronic infections.
- The role of micronutrients in GABHS infection recovery requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of antioxidant vitamin supplementation on hemoglobin levels in children with GABHS infection.
- To compare the outcomes of penicillin treatment alone versus penicillin plus antioxidant vitamins.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 606 primary school children (aged 5-15) with GABHS infection.
- Children were assigned to receive either phenoxymethyl penicillin V or phenoxymethyl penicillin V plus antioxidant vitamins for eight weeks.
- Hemoglobin levels were measured before and after the eight-week treatment period.
Main Results:
- Hemoglobin levels significantly decreased in the penicillin-only group (P=0.0001).
- Hemoglobin levels significantly increased in the group receiving penicillin plus antioxidant vitamins (P=0.001).
- Statistical analysis confirmed a significant difference in hemoglobin changes between the two groups (P=0.0001).
Conclusions:
- Antioxidant vitamin supplementation, in conjunction with penicillin, effectively increases hemoglobin levels in children suffering from GABHS infections.
- This suggests a beneficial role for antioxidant vitamins in managing the hematological impact of GABHS infections.
- Further research into specific antioxidant mechanisms and optimal supplementation strategies is warranted.
Abstract:
A study was done on school children infected with group A beta hemolytic streptococci to examine whether antioxidant vitamins play a role in improving the hemoglobin level. A total of 606 primary school children aged 5 to 15 years were randomly divided into two intervention groups. Group 1 (n=299) was treated with pehnoxymethyl penicillin V and group 2 (n=307) was treated with phenoxymethyl penicillin V plus antioxidant vitamins for eight weeks. From each group two blood samples were drawn in acute and convalescent (after eight weeks) states. Before treatment, mean hemoglobin values were 11.0 and 10.8 mg/dL in groups 1 and 2 respectively. After treatment hemoglobin values were 10.5 and 11.6 mg/dL respectively. Values were significantly decreased in group 1 (P=0.0001), whereas increased in group 2 (P=0.001). Adjustment for age and sex by ANCOVA confirmed the difference in hemoglobin levels between group (LS means-0.5 vs 0.8 in groups 1 and 2 respectively (P=0.0001). Hemoglobin level increases after antioxidant vitamin supplementation in children suffering from group A beta hemolytic streptococcal infection.