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Updated: Mar 28, 2026
10:57
Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children
Published on: August 22, 2012
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Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis and Vitamin A Deficiency: Two Problems, One Policy
Eric C Strunz1, Parminder S Suchdev2, David G Addiss1
1Children Without Worms, The Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, GA, USA.
Trends in Parasitology
|January 4, 2016
Summary
Soil-transmitted helminthiasis treatment boosts provitamin A but not preformed vitamin A. Coordinating interventions for vitamin A deficiency and helminthiasis is a key public health opportunity.
Area of Science:
- Global Health
- Nutritional Science
- Parasitology
Background:
- Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) are prevalent global health issues.
- Coendemicity of VAD and STH affects approximately 75% of countries with moderate to severe VAD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the complex relationship between STH and VAD.
- To evaluate the impact of STH treatment on vitamin A status.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies examining the interaction between STH and VAD.
- Analysis of data on vitamin A biomarkers and STH infection intensity.
Main Results:
- STH treatment significantly elevates provitamin A (e.g., beta-carotene) levels.
- Minimal increases in preformed vitamin A (retinol) were observed post-STH treatment.
- Data interpretation is challenging due to variations in infection intensity and biomarker limitations.
Conclusions:
- STH treatment positively impacts provitamin A status.
- Coordinated interventions for VAD and STH present a significant public health opportunity.
- Further research is needed to overcome biomarker limitations and optimize intervention strategies.
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