Effects of vitamin A supplementation on nutritional markers on the follow-up of malnutrition in children
Ake, M.; Poby, A.G.; Malan, K.A.; Tebi, A.; Monnet, D.
Annales de Biologie Clinique 59(4): 417-421
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-3898 PMID: 11470636 Document Number: 529195
Prospectively assessment of vitamin A supplemented during a follow-up of a protein-energy malnutrition rehabilitation included serum retinol, Retinol Binding Protein (RBP) and prealbumin (PA) determination. This study was conducted during one month on a group of 36 vitamin A (200,000 IU) supplemented malnourished children and 32 age-and sex-matched malnourished children receiving only a nutritional regimen. Determinations were carried out at days 0, 15 and 30. Protein marker concentrations increased steadily in supplemented children as compared to those in the untreated group (p < 0.05, Student's t test). On the other hand, serum concentrations of the two proteins progressively regained normal values in the vitamin A supplemented group. Data also showed that retinol supplementation in conjunction with an appropriate nutritional diet is effective in raising serum concentrations of vitamin A and its binding proteins to normal levels. Therefore, we concluded that the results of this study demonstrates the importance of vitamin A supplementation in the management of these deficiency states.