TY - JOUR
T1 - Synergistic effect of zinc and vitamin A on the biochemical indexes of vitamin A nutrition in children
AU - Rahman, Mohammad M.
AU - Wahed, Mohammad A.
AU - Fuchs, George J.
AU - Baqui, Abdullah H.
AU - Alvarez, Jose O.
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - Background: Zinc deficiency limits the bioavailability of vitamin A. Because zinc and vitamin A deficiency often coexist in malnourished children, simultaneous zinc and vitamin A supplementation may improve the vitamin A deficiency in these children. Objective: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention trial was conducted to evaluate whether combining zinc and vitamin A supplementation would improve the biochemical indexes of vitamin A nutriture. Design: Children aged 12-35 mo were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 intervention groups: 20 mg Zn/d for 14 d (Z group), 60 000 retinol equivalents (200 000 IU) vitamin A on day 14 (A group), zinc plus vitamin A (ZA group), or placebo syrup and placebo capsule (placebo group). Venous blood was drawn at enrollment and on day 21. Results: Mean serum retinol concentrations were not significantly different between the A and ZA groups. Among vitamin A-deficient children, the proportion of children who remained vitamin A deficient (serum retinol <0.7 μmol/L) after supplementation was 40.6% in the Z group, 37.5% in the A group, and 47.0% in the placebo group; only 13.3% in the ZA group remained vitamin A deficient (P < 0.05 compared with the placebo group). The proportion of children whose retinol binding protein concentrations remained low was significantly lower in the ZA group than in the other groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Combined zinc and vitamin A supplementation improves vitamin A nutriture in vitamin A-deficient children.
AB - Background: Zinc deficiency limits the bioavailability of vitamin A. Because zinc and vitamin A deficiency often coexist in malnourished children, simultaneous zinc and vitamin A supplementation may improve the vitamin A deficiency in these children. Objective: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention trial was conducted to evaluate whether combining zinc and vitamin A supplementation would improve the biochemical indexes of vitamin A nutriture. Design: Children aged 12-35 mo were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 intervention groups: 20 mg Zn/d for 14 d (Z group), 60 000 retinol equivalents (200 000 IU) vitamin A on day 14 (A group), zinc plus vitamin A (ZA group), or placebo syrup and placebo capsule (placebo group). Venous blood was drawn at enrollment and on day 21. Results: Mean serum retinol concentrations were not significantly different between the A and ZA groups. Among vitamin A-deficient children, the proportion of children who remained vitamin A deficient (serum retinol <0.7 μmol/L) after supplementation was 40.6% in the Z group, 37.5% in the A group, and 47.0% in the placebo group; only 13.3% in the ZA group remained vitamin A deficient (P < 0.05 compared with the placebo group). The proportion of children whose retinol binding protein concentrations remained low was significantly lower in the ZA group than in the other groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Combined zinc and vitamin A supplementation improves vitamin A nutriture in vitamin A-deficient children.
KW - Children
KW - Malnutrition
KW - Retinol
KW - Retinol binding protein
KW - Supplementation
KW - Vitamin A
KW - Zinc
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U2 - 10.1093/ajcn/75.1.92
DO - 10.1093/ajcn/75.1.92
M3 - Article
C2 - 11756065
AN - SCOPUS:0036136120
SN - 0002-9165
VL - 75
SP - 92
EP - 98
JO - American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
JF - American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
IS - 1
ER -