Vitamin A status and hemoglobin concentrations are improved in Indonesian children with vitamin A and deworming interventions

• Published in: European journal of clinical nutrition 2004-09, Vol.58 (9), p.1223-1230
• Main Authors: Tanumihardjo, S A, Permaesih, D, Muhilal
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Albendazole; Albendazole - therapeutic use; Anemia; Anemia - drug therapy; Anemia - epidemiology; Anemia - prevention & control; Animals; Anthelmintics - therapeutic use; Ascariasis - drug therapy; Ascaris; Ascaris lumbricoides; Biological and medical sciences; Child, Preschool; Children; Children & youth; Clinical Nutrition; Depletion; Dietary Supplements; Epidemiology; Female; Hemoglobin; Hemoglobins - analysis; Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology; Humans; Indonesia; Internal Medicine; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - complications; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - drug therapy; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Nutrition; Nutritional Status; Nutritional survey. Food supply and nutritional requirement; original-communication; Public Health; Retinene; Supplements; Trichuriasis - drug therapy; Vitamin A; Vitamin A - administration & dosage; Worms
• ISSN: 0954-3007; 1476-5640
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601953

Objective : Anemia is a major public health problem caused by multiple factors. Vitamin A (VA) depletion can affect hemoglobin concentration (Hb). This study investigated the improvement in Hb and VA status in preschool Indonesian children following supplementation with 210 μmol VA and deworming with 400 mg albendazole. Subjects and design : Indonesian children ( n =131) infected with Ascaris lumbricoides and/or Trichuris trichiura were enrolled. The children were grouped by length of time since receiving 210 μmol VA through the local health system. Group 1 (VA administered ≥4 month before baseline) included 51 children with Ascaris and 29 children with Trichuris . Group 2 had received VA ≤1 month of baseline from the local health post and included 51 children. Intervention and methods : Immediately following baseline Hb and VA status assessment (modified relative dose response (MRDR) test), Group 1 children were given 210 μmol VA and 400 mg albendazole. Group 2 were randomized to be dewormed either 1 week before, at the same time or 1 week after baseline MRDR and Hb measures. Follow-up assessment was 3–4 weeks after baseline. Results : VA status in Group 1 significantly improved in children with either Ascaris ( P