scholarly journals Micronutrients as adjunct therapy of acute illness in children: impact on the episode outcome and policy implications of current findings

2001 ◽  
Vol 85 (S2) ◽  
pp. S151-S158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dilip Mahalanabis ◽  
Maharaj K. Bhan
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin A ◽  
Large Dose ◽  
Acute Diarrhea ◽  
Zinc Supplementation ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Persistent Diarrhea ◽  
Vitamin A Supplementation ◽  
Adjunct Therapy ◽  
Malnourished Children

Role of micronutrients namely vitamin A, zinc and folate, as adjunct therapy of illness episodes in children in developing countries have been discussed in the light of health policy. Apart from a selective review, attempts have been made to statistically combine results of several studies to address policy issues. In children, vitamin A supplementation during illness has (a) a profound effect in reducing mortality in measles, (b) possibly a significant effect in reducing persistent diarrhea episodes in children with acute diarrhea, and (c) no benefit in pneumonia.Use of large dose vitamin A is recommended during measles episodes but not in non-measles pneumonia. Its use in acute diarrhea is debatable but recommended in persistent diarrhea and in severe malnutrition as a component of a micronutrient mixture. Large dose vitamin A supplementation should be used with caution in young infants as there are unresolved concerns about its safety particularly, bulging fontanelle observed in infants when co-administered at immunization. In children, zinc supplementation during illness, (a) had a marked effect in reducing prolonged episodes and a modest effect on episode duration in acute diarrhea, (b) resulted in reduced rate of treatment failure and death in persistent diarrhea, (c) had no effect in measles and non-measles pneumonia, and (d) probably had a detrimental effect of increasing death rate when a large dose was used in severely malnourished children. The desirability of routine zinc supplementation therapy of undernourished children with acute diarrhea should be assessed further. Concerning policy, zinc supplementation as a component of a micronutrient mixture is recommended in the rehabilitation of severely malnourished children and in persistent diarrhea. However, recommendation for its routine use in all cases of acute diarrhea in children needs additional studies on effectiveness, cost, operations and safety. In two randomized controlled trials folate has been evaluated in acute and persistent diarrhea and found to have no beneficial effect. Folate is not recommended as adjunct therapy of diarrhea. Role of folate in preventing severe disease and/or death deserves further evaluation.

scholarly journals Potential Role of Vitamins and Zinc on Acute Respiratory Infections Including Covid-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 2333794X2110217
Author(s):  
Indah K. Murni ◽  
Endy P. Prawirohartono ◽  
Rina Triasih
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin A ◽  
Vitamin C ◽  
Large Dose ◽  
Common Cold ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Acute Respiratory Infections ◽  
Under Five ◽  
Short Period

Background. Vitamin C, E, D, A, zinc are considered to be essential in preventing and treating of acute respiratory infections (ARI) including COVID-19. Methods. We reviewed published studies evaluating the potential roles of these vitamin and zinc for ARIs and COVID-19 using Medline database, medRxiv, and bibliographic references. Results. Vitamins C, D, and E did not reduce incidence of common cold in general, but vitamin C reduced by half in population with physical and environment stresses. Vitamins C and E shortened duration and reduced severity of common cold. A large-dose vitamin A had no effect on recovery from pneumonia. Zinc improved clinical deterioration and pneumonia duration in under five. The effect on preventing COVID-19 morbidity and related-death was lacking. Conclusions. Although the effects of vitamins and zinc on ARIs including COVID-19 were inconclusive, taking these for a short period during pandemic may be beneficial when there is risks of deficiency.

scholarly journals Effect of vitamin A on severity of acute diarrhea in children

2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 125
Author(s):  
Marlisye Marpaung ◽  
Supriatmo Supriatmo ◽  
Atan Baas Sinuhaji
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin A ◽  
Acute Diarrhea ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Stool Consistency ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Vitamin A Supplementation ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Stool Volume ◽  
Group 1

Background Vitamin A deficiency may increase the risk or bea cause of diarrhea. Many studies have been conducted on theefficacy of vitamin A in the management of acute diarrhea, butthe outcomes remain inconclusive.Objective To determine the effectiveness of vitamin A in reducingthe severity of acute diarrhea in children.Methods We performed a single􀁈blind􀁈randomized controlledtrial in the Secanggang District, Langkat Regency, North ofSumatera, from August 2009 to January 2010 in children aged6 months to 5 years, who had diarrheas. Subjects were dividedinto two groups. Group 1 received a single dose of vitamin A(100,000 IU for subjects aged 6 to 11 month old or with bodyweights :s 10 kg, or 200,000 IU for subjects aged 2: 12 month oldor with body weights> 10 kg). Group 2 received a single doseof placebo. The establishment of severity was based on changesin diarrheal frequency, stool consistency, volume and durationof diarrhea after treatment. We performed independent T􀁈testand Chi square tests for statistical analyses. The study was anintention􀁈to􀁈treat analysis.Results We enrolled 120 children who were randomized intotwo groups of 60 subjects each. Group 1, received vitamin Aand group 2 received a placebo. The results showed significantdifferences between the two groups in stool volume starting onthe first day (95%CI 192.30 to 3237.51; P􀁉O.OOI), as well asdiarrheal frequency (P=O.OOl) and stool consistency (P=O.OOl)on the second day observation and duration of diarrhea followingtreatment (95%CI - 40.60 to - 25.79; P􀁉O.OOI;).Conclusions Vitamin A supplementation is effective in reducingthe severity of acute diarrhea in children under five years of age.[Paediatr lndones. 2013;53:125-31.]

Vitamin A Supplementation in Acute Diarrhea

2000 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 234-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kadriye Yurdak??k ◽  
Elif ??zmert ◽  
S. Song??l Yal??in ◽  
Yahya Laleli
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin A ◽  
Acute Diarrhea ◽  
Vitamin A Supplementation

The Impact of Prenatal Vitamin A and Zinc Supplementation on Birth Size and Neonatal Survival - a Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial in a Rural Area of Indonesia

2013 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Endy P. Prawirohartono ◽  
Lennarth Nyström ◽  
Detty S. Nurdiati ◽  
Mohammad Hakimi ◽  
Torbjörn Lind
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
Zinc Supplementation ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Neonatal Morbidity ◽  
Birth Length ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Vitamin A Supplementation ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Background: Prenatal supplementation with micronutrients may increase birth weight and thus improve infant health and survival in settings where infants and children are at risk of micronutrient deficiencies. Objective: To assess whether vitamin A and/or zinc supplementation given during pregnancy can improve birth weight, birth length, neonatal morbidity, or infant mortality. Methods: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial supplementing women (n = 2173) in Central Java, Indonesia throughout pregnancy with vitamin A, zinc, combined vitamin A+zinc, or placebo. Results: Out of 2173 supplemented pregnant women, 1956 neonates could be evaluated. Overall, zinc supplementation improved birth length compared to placebo or combined vitamin A+zinc (48.8 vs. 48.5 cm, p = 0.04); vitamin A supplementation improved birth length compared to placebo or combined vitamin A+zinc (48.7 vs. 48.2 cm, p = 0.04). These effects remained after adjusting for maternal height, pre-pregnancy weight, and parity. There was no effect of supplementation on birth weight, the proportion of low birth weight, neonatal morbidity, or mortality. Conclusions: Prenatal zinc or vitamin A supplementation demonstrates a small but significant effect on birth length, but supplementation with zinc, vitamin A or a combination of zinc and vitamin A, have no effect on birth weight, neonatal morbidity, or mortality.

scholarly journals Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli and Acute and Persistent Diarrhea in Returned Travelers

2000 ◽  
Vol 38 (10) ◽  
pp. 3550-3554 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Schultsz ◽  
J. van den Ende ◽  
F. Cobelens ◽  
T. Vervoort ◽  
A. van Gompel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Multivariate Analysis ◽  
Acute Diarrhea ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Persistent Diarrhea ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Diarrheagenic Escherichia Coli ◽  
Stool Samples ◽  
Control Study

To determine the role of diarrheagenic Escherichia coliin acute and persistent diarrhea in returned travelers, a case control study was performed. Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) was detected in stool samples from 18 (10.7%) of 169 patients and 4 (3.7%) of 108 controls. Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAggEC) was detected in 16 (9.5%) patients and 7 (6.5%) controls. Diffuse adherent E. coli strains were commonly present in both patients (13%) and controls (13.9). Campylobacter andShigella species were the other bacterial enteropathogens most commonly isolated (10% of patients, 2% of controls). Multivariate analysis showed that the presence of ETEC was associated with acute diarrhea (odds ratio [OR], 6.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5 to 29.1; P = 0.005), but not with persistent diarrhea (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 0.4 to 7.4). EAggEC was significantly more often present in patients with acute diarrhea than in controls (P = 0.009), but no significant association remained after multivariate analysis. ETEC and EAggEC are frequently detected in returned travelers with diarrhea. The presence of ETEC strains is associated with acute but not with persistent diarrhea.

Short-Term Effects of Large-Dose Vitamin A Supplementation on Viral Load and Immune Response in HIV-Infected Women

1999 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean H. Humphrey ◽  
Thomas Quinn ◽  
David Fine ◽  
Howard Lederman ◽  
Sedighe Yamini-Roodsari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Viral Load ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
Large Dose ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Vitamin A Supplementation ◽  
Short Term Effects
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document