The Effects of One Egg Per Day on Vitamin A Status Among Young Malawian Children: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial

• Published in: Current developments in nutrition 2023-03, Vol.7 (3), p.100053-100053, Article 100053
• Main Authors: Werner, E. Rochelle, Haskell, Marjorie J., Arnold, Charles D., Caswell, Bess L., Iannotti, Lora L., Lutter, Chessa K., Maleta, Kenneth M., Stewart, Christine P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: animal-source foods; eggs; infant and young child feeding; Malawi; Original Research; RBP; retinol; sub-Saharan Africa; vitamin A; vitamin A deficiency (VAD)
• ISSN: 2475-2991; 2475-2991
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.100053

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is common in populations with limited dietary diversity and access to vitamin A-rich foods. This analysis aimed to determine the impact of supplementing children’s diets with 1 egg/d on the concentration of plasma retinol and RBP and the prevalence of VAD. Children age 6–9 mo living in the Mangochi district of Malawi were individually randomly assigned to receive 1 egg/d for 6 mo (n = 331) or continue their usual diet (n = 329) in the Mazira trial (clinicaltrials.gov; NCT03385252). This secondary analysis measured plasma retinol by HPLC and RBP, CRP, and α-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) by ELISA techniques at enrollment and 6 mo follow-up. Retinol and RBP were adjusted for inflammation, and mean concentrations were compared between groups using linear regression models. In addition, prevalence ratios of VAD (retinol 5 mg/L or AGP >1 g/L: 62%) and inflammation-adjusted VAD (7%) at enrollment did not differ between groups. At follow-up, the egg intervention group did not differ from the control in inflammation-adjusted retinol [geometric mean (95% CI); egg: 1.10 μmol/L (1.07, 1.13); control: 1.08 (1.05, 1.12)], RBP [egg: 0.99 μmol/L (0.96, 1.02); control: 0.97 (0.94, 1.00)], or prevalence of VAD [egg: 6%; control: 3%; prevalence ratio: 1.87 (0.83, 4.24)]. Provision of 1 egg/d did not impact VAD, plasma retinol, or RBP among young children in rural Malawi, where the prevalence of VAD was low. Curr Dev Nutr 2023;x:xx. This trial was registered at [clinicaltrials.gov] as [NCT03385252].