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https://hdl.handle.net/2440/4188
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Type: | Journal article |
Title: | Supplemental Vitamin A improves anaemia and growth in anaemic school children in Tanzania |
Author: | Mwanri, L. Worsley, A. Ryan, P. Masika, J. |
Citation: | The Journal of Nutrition, 2000; 130(11):2691-2696 |
Publisher: | Amer Inst Nutrition |
Issue Date: | 2000 |
ISSN: | 0022-3166 1541-6100 |
Statement of Responsibility: | Lillian Mwanri, Anthony Worsley, Philip Ryan, and Joseph Masika |
Abstract: | We 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. |
Keywords: | Humans Anemia Body Weight Iron Vitamin A Hemoglobins Body Height Double-Blind Method Growth Poverty Child Rural Health Tanzania Female Male |
Rights: | © 2000 The American Society for Nutritional Sciences |
DOI: | 10.1093/jn/130.11.2691 |
Published version: | http://jn.nutrition.org/content/130/11/2691.abstract |
Appears in Collections: | Aurora harvest 6 Public Health publications |
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