BACKGROUND: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a nutritional problem affecting the health of people in developing countries because VAD compromises innate and adaptive immunity, increasing a person's predisposition toward infectious diseases. In addition, a high prevalence of infectious diseases continues to be a problem in developing countries, including Giardia lamblia. G. lamblia may be related to VAD because of its ability to change the intestinal architecture, thereby compromising the absorption of vitamin A. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of giardiasis on serum retinol levels and vitamin A liver stores in school children. METHODS: Thirty Giardia-infected school children participated in this study. Vitamin A liver stores were evaluated with the modified relative dose response (MRDR) technique, and antiparasitic treatment was administered. In addition, anthropometric and dietary data were collected. RESULTS: According to anthropometric indicators (age-appropriate Z scores for weight, height and body mass index) and daily vitamin A intake, the children had a normal nutritional status. Although the mean serum retinol levels did not change significantly after treatment for Giardia (p > 0.05), the MRDR values showed significant improvement (p < 0.002). CONCLUSION: Giardiasis not only compromises the vitamin A status through intestinal malabsorption, it also causes profound mobilization of liver retinol stores.
BACKGROUND: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a nutritional problem affecting the health of people in developing countries because VAD compromises innate and adaptive immunity, increasing a person's predisposition toward infectious diseases. In addition, a high prevalence of infectious diseases continues to be a problem in developing countries, including Giardia lamblia. G. lamblia may be related to VAD because of its ability to change the intestinal architecture, thereby compromising the absorption of vitamin A. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of giardiasis on serum retinol levels and vitamin A liver stores in school children. METHODS: Thirty Giardia-infected school children participated in this study. Vitamin A liver stores were evaluated with the modified relative dose response (MRDR) technique, and antiparasitic treatment was administered. In addition, anthropometric and dietary data were collected. RESULTS: According to anthropometric indicators (age-appropriate Z scores for weight, height and body mass index) and daily vitamin A intake, the children had a normal nutritional status. Although the mean serum retinol levels did not change significantly after treatment for Giardia (p > 0.05), the MRDR values showed significant improvement (p < 0.002). CONCLUSION:Giardiasis not only compromises the vitamin A status through intestinal malabsorption, it also causes profound mobilization of liver retinol stores.
Authors: Elizabeth T Rogawski; Luther A Bartelt; James A Platts-Mills; Jessica C Seidman; Amidou Samie; Alexandre Havt; Sudhir Babji; Dixner Rengifo Trigoso; Shahida Qureshi; Sadia Shakoor; Rashidul Haque; Estomih Mduma; Samita Bajracharya; S M Abdul Gaffar; Aldo A M Lima; Gagandeep Kang; Margaret N Kosek; Tahmeed Ahmed; Erling Svensen; Carl Mason; Zulfiqar A Bhutta; Dennis R Lang; Michael Gottlieb; Richard L Guerrant; Eric R Houpt; Pascal O Bessong Journal: J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc Date: 2017-06-01 Impact factor: 3.164
Authors: Shamsun Nahar Shaima; Sumon Kumar Das; Shahnawaz Ahmed; Yasmin Jahan; Soroar Hossain Khan; Gazi Md Salahuddin Mamun; Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayeem Bin Shahid; Irin Parvin; Tahmeed Ahmed; A S G Faruque; Mohammod Jobayer Chisti Journal: Children (Basel) Date: 2021-12-15