Clinical Study Title:
Vitamin A supplements ameliorate the adverse effect of HIV-1, malaria, and diarrheal infections on child growth.

Plain English Summary:

Vitamin A has been linked with improved growth in many animal studies. Many disorders, such as malaria, diarrhea, and HIV infection can often lead to vitamin A deficiency and have other adverse reactions. This study looked at the use of a vitamin A supplement versus a placebo given to almost 600 participants who were admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. Follow up of these participants showed that those participants who were given vitamin A and had other infections such as HIV positive status or malaria had improved growth over those participants who did not received the supplements. The use of a vitamin A supplement can be very beneficial and inexpensive to help improve growth in children who have other infections.

Authors

Villamor E. Mbise R. Spiegelman D. Hertzmark E. Fataki M. Peterson KE. Ndossi G. Fawzi WW.

Institution

Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts. Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Country of Publication

United States

Source

Pediatrics. 109(1):E6, 2002 Jan.