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Supplemental vitamin A improves anemia and growth in anemic school children in Tanzania
journal contribution
posted on 2000-11-01, 00:00 authored by L Mwanri, Tony WorsleyTony Worsley, P Ryan, J MasikaWe conducted a randomized controlled trial of the effects of dietary supplements on anemia, weight and height in 136 anemic school children from a low socioeconomic background in Bagamoyo District schools in Tanzania. The aim of the current study was to investigate the impact of dietary supplements on anemia and anthropometric indices of anemic school children. The supplements were vitamin A alone, iron and vitamin A, iron alone or placebo, administered in a double-blinded design for 3 mo. All supplements were provided with local corn meals. Hemoglobin concentration, body weight and height were measured at baseline and at follow-up after supplementation. Vitamin A supplementation increased the mean hemoglobin concentration by 13.5 g/L compared with 3.5 g/L for placebo [P < 0.0001, 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.19-13.57), the mean body weight by 0.6 kg compared with 0.2 kg for placebo (P < 0.0001, 95% CI 0.19-0.65) and the mean height by 0.4 cm compared with 0.1 cm for placebo (P = 0.0009, 95% CI 0.08-0.42). However, the group of children who received combined vitamin A and iron supplementation had the greatest improvements in all indicators compared with placebo (18.5 g/L, P < 0.0001, 95% CI 14.81-22.23; 0.7 kg, P < 0. 0001, 95% CI 0.43-0.88 and 0.4 cm, P < 0.0001, 95% CI 0.22-0.56 for hemoglobin, weight and height, respectively). It is likely that vitamin A supplementation may have a useful role in combating the problems of vitamin A deficiency and anemia, as well as in improving children's growth, in developing countries.
History
Journal
Journal of nutritionVolume
130Issue
11Pagination
2691 - 2696Publisher
American Society for NutritionLocation
[Rockville, Md.]ISSN
0022-3166Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2000, American Society for Nutritional SciencesUsage metrics
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No categories selectedKeywords
AnemiaBody HeightBody WeightChildDouble-Blind MethodFemaleGrowthHemoglobinsHumansIronMalePovertyRural HealthTanzaniaVitamin AScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineNutrition & Dieteticsrural school childrenrandomized controlled trialCATCH-UP GROWTHIRON SUPPLEMENTATIONDEVELOPING-COUNTRIESNORTHEAST THAILANDZINCACHIEVEMENTMETABOLISMDEFICIENCYNUTRITIONPRESCHOOL
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