The impact of different doses of vitamin A supplementation on male and female mortality. A randomised trial from Guinea-Bissau

• Principais autores: Diness Birgitte R (Autor), Martins Cesario (Autor), Benn Christine S (Autor), Yakymenko Dorthe (Autor), Fisker Ane B (Autor), Rodrigues Amabelia (Autor), Aaby Peter (Autor)
• Formato: Livro
• Publicado em: BMC, 2011-09-01T00:00:00Z.
• Assuntos: article
• Acesso em linha: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1186/1471-2431-11-77; 1471-2431
• Keywords: Pediatrics; RJ1-570
• Source: BMC Pediatrics, Vol 11, Iss 1, p 77 (2011)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Vitamin A supplementation (VAS) given to children between 6 months and 5 years of age is known to reduce mortality in low-income countries. We have previously observed that girls benefit more from a lower dose of VAS than the one recommended by WHO, the effect being strongest if diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine (DTP) was the most recent vaccination. We aimed to test these observations.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>During national immunisations days in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, combining oral polio vaccination and VAS, we randomised 8626 children between 6 months and 5 years of age to receive the dose of VAS recommended by WHO or half this dose. Mortality rate ratios (MRRs) were assessed after 6 and 12 month.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The overall mortality rate among participants was lower than expected. There was no significant difference in mortality at 6 months and 12 months of follow up between the low dose VAS group and the recommended dose VAS group. The MRRs were 1.23 (0.60-2.54) after 6 months and 1.17 (0.73-1.87) after 12 months. This tendency was similar in boys and girls. The low dose was not associated with lower mortality in girls if the most recent vaccine was DTP (MRR = 0.60 (0.14-2.50) after 6 months).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our sample size does not permit firm conclusions since mortality was lower than expected. We could not confirm a beneficial effect of a lower dose of VAS on mortality in girls.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>The study was registered under clinicaltrials.gov, number <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00168636">NCT00168636</a></p>