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Published on: January 19, 2024
Vitamin A supplementation and child survival
M G Herrera1, P Nestel, A el Amin
1Harvard Institute for International Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138.
Lancet (London, England)
|August 1, 1992
Summary
High-dose vitamin A supplementation every six months did not reduce child mortality in Sudan. Factors like poverty, poor sanitation, and inadequate diets remain critical for improving child survival rates.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Nutrition Science
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Conflicting results exist regarding the efficacy of 6-monthly vitamin A supplementation in reducing child mortality.
- More frequent vitamin A dosing has shown promise in reducing mortality in deficient populations.
- Vitamin A deficiency remains a significant public health concern for children globally.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of 6-monthly high-dose vitamin A supplementation on child mortality.
- To assess the impact of vitamin A and vitamin E co-supplementation versus placebo in a high-risk population.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 28,753 children aged 9-72 months in Sudan.
- Children received either 200,000 IU vitamin A with 40 IU vitamin E or placebo (40 IU vitamin E) every 6 months.
- Follow-up was conducted over 18 months, with mortality as the primary outcome.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in mortality rates between the vitamin A and placebo groups (1.06 relative risk).
- Mortality was significantly higher in children from impoverished, unsanitary environments, younger children, and those with poor nutritional status or low dietary vitamin A intake.
- Statistical adjustments for various factors did not alter the primary finding.
Conclusions:
- Large-dose, 6-monthly vitamin A supplementation did not demonstrate a mortality benefit in this population.
- Despite the lack of supplement efficacy, a strong association between dietary vitamin A and mortality was observed.
- Addressing underlying factors like poverty, sanitation, and diet is crucial for improving child survival.
Keywords:
AfricaArab CountriesBiologyChild MortalityChild NutritionChild SurvivalDemographic FactorsDeveloping CountriesDiseasesDouble-blind StudiesEconomic FactorsHealthLength Of LifeMalnutritionMorbidityMortalityNorthern AfricaNutritionNutrition DisordersPhysiologyPopulationPopulation CharacteristicsPopulation DynamicsResearch MethodologyRural PopulationSocioeconomic FactorsStudiesSudanSurvivorshipVitamin A--administraction and dosageVitamins
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