OBJECTIVE: High prevalences of vitamin A deficiency and anaemia among adolescents warrant interventions. This study evaluated the effectiveness of school-based supplementation to reduce anaemia and improve vitamin A status. DESIGN: School-based, grade-randomized, intervention. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: In all, 1757 girls and 1859 boys, aged 12-15 y, in 24 Junior High Schools. INTERVENTIONS: Weekly supplementation for 14 weeks with 60 mg iron and 250 microg folate (Fe group; n=978), 10 000 IU vitamin A (VA group; n=970) or both (VAFe group; n=1042) to subjects in 15 schools, compared to subjects in nine other schools not receiving supplements (control; n=626). RESULTS: The baseline anaemia prevalence (Hb <120 g/l) in girls was 20% (prepubertal) and 26% (pubertal), and in boys 24% (pre-pubertal) and 11% (pubertal). Serum retinol concentrations were low (<1.05 micromol/l) in 41% of boys and 45% of girls. The interventions did not increase haemoglobin concentrations. Serum retinol concentration of boys, but not girls, in the VA group increased (0.33 vs 0.07 micromol/l in controls; P<0.01). The risk factors for low serum retinol concentration were lower baseline serum retinol concentration (OR 0.02-0.03) with, for girls, nightblindness at baseline (OR 5.88), and for boys, not receiving vitamin A (OR control: 1.00; VA: 0.37; Fe: 0.77; VAFe: 0.34) and maternal illiteracy (OR mother never attended school 1.00, mother received any formal education 0.17-0.33). CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with vitamin A increased serum retinol concentration of boys. Iron supplementation did not change Hb. This appeared to be due to poor compliance, and partly related to side effects.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: High prevalences of vitamin A deficiency and anaemia among adolescents warrant interventions. This study evaluated the effectiveness of school-based supplementation to reduce anaemia and improve vitamin A status. DESIGN: School-based, grade-randomized, intervention. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: In all, 1757 girls and 1859 boys, aged 12-15 y, in 24 Junior High Schools. INTERVENTIONS: Weekly supplementation for 14 weeks with 60 mg iron and 250 microg folate (Fe group; n=978), 10 000 IU vitamin A (VA group; n=970) or both (VAFe group; n=1042) to subjects in 15 schools, compared to subjects in nine other schools not receiving supplements (control; n=626). RESULTS: The baseline anaemia prevalence (Hb <120 g/l) in girls was 20% (prepubertal) and 26% (pubertal), and in boys 24% (pre-pubertal) and 11% (pubertal). Serum retinol concentrations were low (<1.05 micromol/l) in 41% of boys and 45% of girls. The interventions did not increase haemoglobin concentrations. Serum retinol concentration of boys, but not girls, in the VA group increased (0.33 vs 0.07 micromol/l in controls; P<0.01). The risk factors for low serum retinol concentration were lower baseline serum retinol concentration (OR 0.02-0.03) with, for girls, nightblindness at baseline (OR 5.88), and for boys, not receiving vitamin A (OR control: 1.00; VA: 0.37; Fe: 0.77; VAFe: 0.34) and maternal illiteracy (OR mother never attended school 1.00, mother received any formal education 0.17-0.33). CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with vitamin A increased serum retinol concentration of boys. Iron supplementation did not change Hb. This appeared to be due to poor compliance, and partly related to side effects.
Authors: Hesham M Al-Mekhlafi; Ebtesam M Al-Zabedi; Mohamed T Al-Maktari; Wahib M Atroosh; Ahmed K Al-Delaimy; Norhayati Moktar; Atiya A Sallam; Wan Ariffin Abdullah; Rohana Jani; Johari Surin Journal: Nutrients Date: 2013-12-31 Impact factor: 5.717
Authors: Olushina Olawale Awe; Dennis Makafui Dogbey; Ronel Sewpaul; Derrick Sekgala; Natisha Dukhi Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-05-27 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Fernanda B Michelazzo; Julicristie M Oliveira; Juliana Stefanello; Liania A Luzia; Patricia H C Rondó Journal: Nutrients Date: 2013-11-07 Impact factor: 5.717
Authors: Rehana A Salam; Mehar Hooda; Jai K Das; Ahmed Arshad; Zohra S Lassi; Philippa Middleton; Zulfiqar A Bhutta Journal: J Adolesc Health Date: 2016-10 Impact factor: 5.012