Hematological effect of supplementing anemic children with vitamin A alone and in combination with iron

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nutrition
• Hematology
• Micronutrient Metabolism

Background:

• Anemia is a prevalent global health issue in children, often linked to iron deficiency.
• Vitamin A deficiency can exacerbate iron deficiency anemia, impacting iron metabolism and red blood cell production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the individual and combined effects of vitamin A and iron supplementation on anemic children.
• To evaluate the impact on hematological parameters, iron status, and serum retinol levels.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 99 anemic children aged 1-8 years.
• Four groups received vitamin A, iron, vitamin A plus iron, or placebo for two months.
• Clinical, hematological, and iron biochemical assessments were conducted pre- and post-supplementation.

Main Results:

• Vitamin A supplementation significantly increased serum retinol, hemoglobin, hematocrit, erythrocytes, serum iron, and transferrin saturation.
• Iron supplementation improved hematological indicators, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), and serum ferritin.
• Combined vitamin A and iron supplementation showed enhanced improvements in serum iron and transferrin saturation compared to single nutrient supplementation.

Conclusions:

• Vitamin A plays a beneficial role in improving the hematological condition and iron metabolism in anemic children.
• Combined vitamin A and iron supplementation is more effective in improving iron status than individual supplementation.
• These findings highlight the synergistic interaction between vitamin A and iron in managing childhood anemia.