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Vitamin A absorption in children with ascariasis
F Ahmed1, M Mohiduzzaman, A A Jackson
1Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Insights
Ascaris lumbricoides infection in children did not impair vitamin A absorption. Studies found no evidence that these parasitic worms cause malabsorption of vitamin A, despite low retinol levels in infected children.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional science
- Parasitology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Vitamin A deficiency is a significant public health concern, especially in developing countries.
- Intestinal parasitic infections are common in children in low-income settings and may affect nutrient absorption.
- Ascaris lumbricoides is a prevalent intestinal nematode worldwide.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of Ascaris lumbricoides infection on retinol (vitamin A) absorption in young children.
- To determine if Ascaris infection contributes to vitamin A malabsorption and deficiency.
Main Methods:
- Study conducted in young children (4-10 years) from a slum area in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- Stool examination for parasitic eggs (Ascaris, Trichuris, hookworm) and serum retinol levels were assessed.
- Oral retinol loading test performed on a subset of children with varying Ascaris infection intensity.
- Retinol content in isolated Ascaris worms analyzed.
Main Results:
- Children with Ascaris infection had significantly lower average serum retinol levels compared to a reference group.
- The oral retinol loading test showed efficient absorption, with less than 1% of the supplement recovered in stool.
- No retinol was detected within the Ascaris worms themselves.
Conclusions:
- The study findings do not support the hypothesis that Ascaris lumbricoides infection causes vitamin A malabsorption.
- Low serum retinol levels in infected children may be due to other factors, not impaired absorption by Ascaris.
- Further research is needed to understand the causes of vitamin A deficiency in this population.
Abstract:
The effect of Ascaris lumbricoides infection on retinol absorption was investigated in young children from a slum area of Dhaka City, Bangladesh. Twenty-four children aged 4-10 years were screened and in every case eggs of either Ascaris, Trichuris or hookworm were isolated from the stool. The average serum retinol was 0.91 (SD 0.35) mumol/l and sixteen children had levels below 1.05 mumol/l. This compared with a serum retinol concentration of 1.70 (SD 0.52) mumol/l in five reference children from a more privileged social background. An oral dose of retinol (41.8 mumol) was given to ten children in whom the concentration of Ascaris eggs in the stool varied. Less than 1% of the supplement could be recovered in the stools collected over the following 48 h. Ascaris worms were isolated from the stool and assayed for retinol content. In no case was retinol detected in the worms. These findings do not support the contention that infection with Ascaris predisposes to malabsorption of vitamin A.