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Ussishkin N, Nachmani D. A Bloody Feast-Nutritional Regulation of Hematopoiesis. Exp Hematol 2023; 127:1-7. [PMID: 37582454 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2023.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Hematopoietic stem cells provide us with a lifelong supply of blood cells. Hence, their proper function is absolutely essential for life, and their dysfunction can lead to infectious and malignant diseases. These cells have specific metabolic requirements to enable their lifelong function and blood-producing capacity. With the words of the Roman poet Juvenal "a healthy mind in a healthy body" in mind, it is intriguing to understand the connection between our daily diet and the quality of our blood, with the hope that through specific dietary adjustments we can improve our hematopoietic stem cell function and prevent disease. Nowadays, dietary supplements are an expanding market filled with potential and promises for better health. However, the link between many of those supplements and human physiology is obscure. Several groups have begun to shed light on this by investigating the metabolic regulation of hematopoiesis by specific nutrients. Beyond the link to dietary supplementation, these studies have also significantly improved our understanding of basic hematopoietic stem cell biology. Herein we summarize recent knowledge on the effect of specific vitamins and amino acids, which might be considered as dietary supplements, on normal hematopoiesis and hematopoietic stem cell function. We propose that improving our understanding of the link between nutrition in general and blood physiology can ultimately lead to the optimization of health-care policies, protocols, and standards of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noga Ussishkin
- Department of Genetics, The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Daphna Nachmani
- Department of Genetics, The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Jerusalem, Israel.
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Kumar A, Anjankar A. A Narrative Review of Vitamin A Supplementation in Preterm and Term Infants. Cureus 2022; 14:e30242. [DOI: 10.7759/cureus.30242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
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Imdad A, Mayo-Wilson E, Haykal MR, Regan A, Sidhu J, Smith A, Bhutta ZA. Vitamin A supplementation for preventing morbidity and mortality in children from six months to five years of age. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2022; 3:CD008524. [PMID: 35294044 PMCID: PMC8925277 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd008524.pub4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a major public health problem in low- and middle-income countries, affecting 190 million children under five years of age and leading to many adverse health consequences, including death. Based on prior evidence and a previous version of this review, the World Health Organization has continued to recommend vitamin A supplementation (VAS) for children aged 6 to 59 months. The last version of this review was published in 2017, and this is an updated version of that review. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of vitamin A supplementation (VAS) for preventing morbidity and mortality in children aged six months to five years. SEARCH METHODS We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, six other databases, and two trials registers up to March 2021. We also checked reference lists and contacted relevant organisations and researchers to identify additional studies. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and cluster-RCTs evaluating the effect of synthetic VAS in children aged six months to five years living in the community. We excluded studies involving children in hospital and children with disease or infection. We also excluded studies evaluating the effects of food fortification, consumption of vitamin A rich foods, or beta-carotene supplementation. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS For this update, two review authors independently assessed studies for inclusion resolving discrepancies by discussion. We performed meta-analyses for outcomes, including all-cause and cause-specific mortality, disease, vision, and side effects. We used the GRADE approach to assess the quality of the evidence. MAIN RESULTS The updated search identified no new RCTs. We identified 47 studies, involving approximately 1,223,856 children. Studies were set in 19 countries: 30 (63%) in Asia, 16 of these in India; 8 (17%) in Africa; 7 (15%) in Latin America, and 2 (4%) in Australia. About one-third of the studies were in urban/periurban settings, and half were in rural settings; the remaining studies did not clearly report settings. Most studies included equal numbers of girls and boys and lasted about one year. The mean age of the children was about 33 months. The included studies were at variable overall risk of bias; however, evidence for the primary outcome was at low risk of bias. A meta-analysis for all-cause mortality included 19 trials (1,202,382 children). At longest follow-up, there was a 12% observed reduction in the risk of all-cause mortality for VAS compared with control using a fixed-effect model (risk ratio (RR) 0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.83 to 0.93; high-certainty evidence). Nine trials reported mortality due to diarrhoea and showed a 12% overall reduction for VAS (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.79 to 0.98; 1,098,538 children; high-certainty evidence). There was no evidence of a difference for VAS on mortality due to measles (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.11; 6 studies, 1,088,261 children; low-certainty evidence), respiratory disease (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.12; 9 studies, 1,098,538 children; low-certainty evidence), and meningitis. VAS reduced the incidence of diarrhoea (RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.82 to 0.87; 15 studies, 77,946 children; low-certainty evidence), measles (RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.67; 6 studies, 19,566 children; moderate-certainty evidence), Bitot's spots (RR 0.42, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.53; 5 studies, 1,063,278 children; moderate-certainty evidence), night blindness (RR 0.32, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.50; 2 studies, 22,972 children; moderate-certainty evidence), and VAD (RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.78; 4 studies, 2262 children, moderate-certainty evidence). However, there was no evidence of a difference on incidence of respiratory disease (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.06; 11 studies, 27,540 children; low-certainty evidence) or hospitalisations due to diarrhoea or pneumonia. There was an increased risk of vomiting within the first 48 hours of VAS (RR 1.97, 95% CI 1.44 to 2.69; 4 studies, 10,541 children; moderate-certainty evidence). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS This update identified no new eligible studies and the conclusions remain the same. VAS is associated with a clinically meaningful reduction in morbidity and mortality in children. Further placebo-controlled trials of VAS in children between six months and five years of age would not change the conclusions of this review, although studies that compare different doses and delivery mechanisms are needed. In populations with documented VAD, it would be unethical to conduct placebo-controlled trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aamer Imdad
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Evan Mayo-Wilson
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Maya R Haykal
- College of Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Allison Regan
- College of Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Jasleen Sidhu
- College of Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Abigail Smith
- Health Sciences Library, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Zulfiqar A Bhutta
- Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
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Gannon BM, Jones C, Mehta S. Vitamin A Requirements in Pregnancy and Lactation. Curr Dev Nutr 2020; 4:nzaa142. [PMID: 32999954 PMCID: PMC7513584 DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzaa142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy and lactation are critical life stages with unique nutritional requirements, including for vitamin A (VA). Current DRIs for VA were published in 2001. The objective of this review was to identify and categorize evidence related to VA requirements in pregnancy and lactation since these DRIs were formulated. We searched MEDLINE and included articles according to an analytic framework of maternal VA exposure on status and health outcomes in the mother-child dyad. Intermediate and indirect evidence supports that maternal VA intakes can impact the mother's VA status, breastmilk, and health outcomes, as well as the child's VA status and select health outcomes. Food-based approaches can lead to more sustained, sufficient VA status in mothers and children. Research needs include further study linking maternal VA intakes on maternal and child VA status, and further associations with outcomes to determine intake requirements to optimize health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan M Gannon
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, and Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Global Health, and Technology (INSiGHT), Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Camille Jones
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, and Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Global Health, and Technology (INSiGHT), Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Saurabh Mehta
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, and Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Global Health, and Technology (INSiGHT), Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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Atalhi N, El Hamdouchi A, Barkat A, Elkari K, Hamrani A, El Mzibri M, Haskell MJ, Mokhtar N, Aguenaou H. Combined consumption of a single high-dose vitamin A supplement with provision of vitamin A fortified oil to households maintains adequate milk retinol concentrations for 6 months in lactating Moroccan women. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2019; 45:275-282. [PMID: 31365834 DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2019-0116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In Morocco, postpartum women systematically receive a single, high dose of vitamin A (VA; 200 000 IU) within the first month of giving birth and vegetable oil is fortified to increase the VA intake. The efficacy of this combined approach of supplementation and fortification for increasing maternal VA status during lactation is not known. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of postpartum high dose VA supplementation and provision of VA fortified oil for household consumption on plasma and milk retinol concentrations of lactating Moroccan women during the first 6 months after giving birth. Postpartum women aged 19-40 years received a VA supplement and thereafter were randomly assigned to one of two groups to receive weekly vitamin A fortified oil (FO) or non-fortified oil (NFO) for 6 months. Serum retinol concentration was higher in the FO group than in the NFO group at 6 months after giving birth (p < 0.0001). Milk retinol per gram fat at baseline did not differ by group; by 3 months after giving birth, milk retinol per gram fat was higher in the FO group than in the NFO group (p = 0.02) and remained higher throughout the 6 months (p < 0.0001). The combination of supplementation and fortification has a more sustained impact on milk retinol concentrations than supplementation alone, which did not have a sustained impact on milk VA concentrations. The fortification approach seems to be more effective for maintaining adequate milk VA concentrations among lactating Moroccan women. Fortification seems to be a long-term solution for the problem of VA deficiency, especially among women in low-income communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naima Atalhi
- Unité Mixte de Recherche en Nutrition et Alimentation, URAC39, Regional Designated Center of Nutrition Associated with AFRA/IAEA, CNESTEN, Université Ibn Tofaïl, Rabat, Kénitra, Morocco
| | - Asmaa El Hamdouchi
- Unité Mixte de Recherche en Nutrition et Alimentation, URAC39, Regional Designated Center of Nutrition Associated with AFRA/IAEA, CNESTEN, Université Ibn Tofaïl, Rabat, Kénitra, Morocco
| | - Amina Barkat
- Health and Nutrition Research Team of the Mother Child Couple, Faculty of Medicine, Université Mohammed V, Souissi, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Khalid Elkari
- Unité Mixte de Recherche en Nutrition et Alimentation, URAC39, Regional Designated Center of Nutrition Associated with AFRA/IAEA, CNESTEN, Université Ibn Tofaïl, Rabat, Kénitra, Morocco
| | - Abdeslam Hamrani
- Unité Mixte de Recherche en Nutrition et Alimentation, URAC39, Regional Designated Center of Nutrition Associated with AFRA/IAEA, CNESTEN, Université Ibn Tofaïl, Rabat, Kénitra, Morocco
| | - Mohammed El Mzibri
- Unité Mixte de Recherche en Nutrition et Alimentation, URAC39, Regional Designated Center of Nutrition Associated with AFRA/IAEA, CNESTEN, Université Ibn Tofaïl, Rabat, Kénitra, Morocco
| | - Marjorie J Haskell
- Program in International and Community Nutrition and Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Najat Mokhtar
- Unité Mixte de Recherche en Nutrition et Alimentation, URAC39, Regional Designated Center of Nutrition Associated with AFRA/IAEA, CNESTEN, Université Ibn Tofaïl, Rabat, Kénitra, Morocco
| | - Hassan Aguenaou
- Unité Mixte de Recherche en Nutrition et Alimentation, URAC39, Regional Designated Center of Nutrition Associated with AFRA/IAEA, CNESTEN, Université Ibn Tofaïl, Rabat, Kénitra, Morocco
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Herrera-Perez D, Haslam A, Crain T, Gill J, Livingston C, Kaestner V, Hayes M, Morgan D, Cifu AS, Prasad V. A comprehensive review of randomized clinical trials in three medical journals reveals 396 medical reversals. eLife 2019; 8:e45183. [PMID: 31182188 PMCID: PMC6559784 DOI: 10.7554/elife.45183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to identify medical reversals and other low-value medical practices is an essential prerequisite for efforts to reduce spending on such practices. Through an analysis of more than 3000 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in three leading medical journals (the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Lancet, and the New England Journal of Medicine), we have identified 396 medical reversals. Most of the studies (92%) were conducted on populations in high-income counties, cardiovascular disease was the most common medical category (20%), and medication was the most common type of intervention (33%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Herrera-Perez
- Knight Cancer InstituteOregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandUnited States
| | - Alyson Haslam
- Knight Cancer InstituteOregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandUnited States
| | - Tyler Crain
- Knight Cancer InstituteOregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandUnited States
| | - Jennifer Gill
- Knight Cancer InstituteOregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandUnited States
| | | | - Victoria Kaestner
- Knight Cancer InstituteOregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandUnited States
| | - Michael Hayes
- Division of Internal MedicineOregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandUnited States
| | - Dan Morgan
- Department of Epidemiology & Public HealthUniversity of Maryland School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Adam S Cifu
- Department of MedicineUniversity of ChicagoChigcagoUnited States
| | - Vinay Prasad
- Knight Cancer InstituteOregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandUnited States
- Department of Public Health and Preventive MedicineOregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandUnited States
- Center for Health Care EthicsOregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandUnited States
- Department of MedicineOregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandUnited States
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Hombali AS, Solon JA, Venkatesh BT, Nair NS, Peña‐Rosas JP. Fortification of staple foods with vitamin A for vitamin A deficiency. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019; 5:CD010068. [PMID: 31074495 PMCID: PMC6509778 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd010068.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vitamin A deficiency is a significant public health problem in many low- and middle-income countries, especially affecting young children, women of reproductive age, and pregnant women. Fortification of staple foods with vitamin A has been used to increase vitamin A consumption among these groups. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of fortifying staple foods with vitamin A for reducing vitamin A deficiency and improving health-related outcomes in the general population older than two years of age. SEARCH METHODS We searched the following international databases with no language or date restrictions: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2018, Issue 6) in the Cochrane Library; MEDLINE and MEDLINE In Process OVID; Embase OVID; CINAHL Ebsco; Web of Science (ISI) SCI, SSCI, CPCI-exp and CPCI-SSH; BIOSIS (ISI); POPLINE; Bibliomap; TRoPHI; ASSIA (Proquest); IBECS; SCIELO; Global Index Medicus - AFRO and EMRO; LILACS; PAHO; WHOLIS; WPRO; IMSEAR; IndMED; and Native Health Research Database. We also searched clinicaltrials.gov and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform to identify ongoing and unpublished studies. The date of the last search was 19 July 2018. SELECTION CRITERIA We included individually or cluster-randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in this review. The intervention included fortification of staple foods (sugar, edible oils, edible fats, maize flour or corn meal, wheat flour, milk and dairy products, and condiments and seasonings) with vitamin A alone or in combination with other vitamins and minerals. We included the general population older than two years of age (including pregnant and lactating women) from any country. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two authors independently screened and assessed eligibility of studies for inclusion, extracted data from included studies and assessed their risk of bias. We used standard Cochrane methodology to carry out the review. MAIN RESULTS We included 10 randomised controlled trials involving 4455 participants. All the studies were conducted in low- and upper-middle income countries where vitamin A deficiency was a public health issue. One of the included trials did not contribute data to the outcomes of interest.Three trials compared provision of staple foods fortified with vitamin A versus unfortified staple food, five trials compared provision of staple foods fortified with vitamin A plus other micronutrients versus unfortified staple foods, and two trials compared provision of staple foods fortified with vitamin A plus other micronutrients versus no intervention. No studies compared staple foods fortified with vitamin A alone versus no intervention.The duration of interventions ranged from three to nine months. We assessed six studies at high risk of bias overall. Government organisations, non-governmental organisations, the private sector, and academic institutions funded the included studies; funding source does not appear to have distorted the results.Staple food fortified with vitamin A versus unfortified staple food We are uncertain whether fortifying staple foods with vitamin A alone makes little or no difference for serum retinol concentration (mean difference (MD) 0.03 μmol/L, 95% CI -0.06 to 0.12; 3 studies, 1829 participants; I² = 90%, very low-certainty evidence). It is uncertain whether vitamin A alone reduces the risk of subclinical vitamin A deficiency (risk ratio (RR) 0.45, 95% CI 0.19 to 1.05; 2 studies; 993 participants; I² = 33%, very low-certainty evidence). The certainty of the evidence was mainly affected by risk of bias, imprecision and inconsistency.It is uncertain whether vitamin A fortification reduces clinical vitamin A deficiency, defined as night blindness (RR 0.11, 95% CI 0.01 to 1.98; 1 study, 581 participants, very low-certainty evidence). The certainty of the evidence was mainly affected by imprecision, inconsistency, and risk of bias.Staple foods fortified with vitamin A versus no intervention No studies provided data for this comparison.Staple foods fortified with vitamin A plus other micronutrients versus same unfortified staple foods Fortifying staple foods with vitamin A plus other micronutrients may not increase the serum retinol concentration (MD 0.08 μmol/L, 95% CI -0.06 to 0.22; 4 studies; 1009 participants; I² = 95%, low-certainty evidence). The certainty of the evidence was mainly affected by serious inconsistency and risk of bias.In comparison to unfortified staple foods, fortification with vitamin A plus other micronutrients probably reduces the risk of subclinical vitamin A deficiency (RR 0.27, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.49; 3 studies; 923 participants; I² = 0%; moderate-certainty evidence). The certainty of the evidence was mainly affected by serious risk of bias.Staple foods fortified with vitamin A plus other micronutrients versus no interventionFortification of staple foods with vitamin A plus other micronutrients may increase serum retinol concentration (MD 0.22 μmol/L, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.30; 2 studies; 318 participants; I² = 0%; low-certainty evidence). When compared to no intervention, it is uncertain whether the intervention reduces the risk of subclinical vitamin A deficiency (RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.98; 2 studies; 318 participants; I² = 0%; very low-certainty evidence) . The certainty of the evidence was affected mainly by serious imprecision and risk of bias.No trials reported on the outcomes of all-cause morbidity, all-cause mortality, adverse effects, food intake, congenital anomalies (for pregnant women), or breast milk concentration (for lactating women). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Fortifying staple foods with vitamin A alone may make little or no difference to serum retinol concentrations or the risk of subclinical vitamin A deficiency. In comparison with provision of unfortified foods, provision of staple foods fortified with vitamin A plus other micronutrients may not increase serum retinol concentration but probably reduces the risk of subclinical vitamin A deficiency.Compared to no intervention, staple foods fortified with vitamin A plus other micronutrients may increase serum retinol concentration, although it is uncertain whether the intervention reduces the risk of subclinical vitamin A deficiency as the certainty of the evidence has been assessed as very low.It was not possible to estimate the effect of staple food fortification on outcomes such as mortality, morbidity, adverse effects, congenital anomalies, or breast milk vitamin A, as no trials included these outcomes.The type of funding source for the studies did not appear to distort the results from the analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi S Hombali
- Institute of Mental HealthDepartment of ResearchBlock 7, Buangkok View, Buangkok Green Medical ParkSingaporeSingapore539747
| | | | - Bhumika T Venkatesh
- Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher EducationPublic Health Evidence South Asia (PHESA)ManipalUdupiIndia
| | - N Sreekumaran Nair
- Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) (Institution of National Importance Under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India)Department of Medical Biometrics & Informatics (Biostatistics)4th Floor, Administrative BlockDhanvantri NagarPuducherryIndia605006
| | - Juan Pablo Peña‐Rosas
- World Health OrganizationEvidence and Programme Guidance, Department of Nutrition for Health and Development20 Avenue AppiaGenevaGESwitzerland1211
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Early neonatal vitamin A supplementation and infant mortality: an individual participant data meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Arch Dis Child 2019; 104:217-226. [PMID: 30425075 PMCID: PMC6556975 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2018-315242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biannual vitamin A supplementation is a well-established survival tool for preschool children 6 months and older in vitamin A deficient populations but this schedule misses the opportunity to intervene on most young infant deaths. Randomised trials of neonatal vitamin A supplementation (NVAS) in the first few days of life to assess its impact on under 6-month mortality in low/middle-income countries have had varying results. METHODS Investigators of 11 published randomised placebo-controlled NVAS trials (n=163 567 children) reanalysed their data according to an agreed plan and pooled the primary outcomes of mortality from supplementation through 6 and 12 months of age using random effects models and meta-regression. One investigator withdrew but allowed use of the data. FINDINGS Overall there was no effect of NVAS on infant survival through 6 (risk ratio (RR) 0.97; 95% CI 0.89 to 1.06) or 12 months of age (RR 1.00; 95% CI 0.93 to 1.08) but results varied by study population characteristics.NVAS significantly reduced 6-month mortality among the trials conducted in Southern Asia (RR 0.87; 95% CI 0.77 to 0.98), in contexts with moderate or severe vitamin A deficiency (defined as 10% or higher proportion of women with serum retinol <0.7 µmol/L or 5% or more women with night blindness) (RR 0.87; 95% CI 0.80 to 0.94), early infant mortality was 30 or more per 1000 live births (RR 0.91; 95% CI 0.85 to 0.98), 75% or more of infant mortality occurred in the first 6 months of life (RR 0.92; 95% CI 0.84 to 1.01), or where >32% mothers had no schooling (RR 0.88; 95% CI 0.80 to 0.96). NVAS did not reduce mortality in the first 6 months of life in trials conducted in Africa, in contexts characterised by a low prevalence of vitamin A deficiency, lower rates of infant mortality and where maternal education was more prevalent. There was a suggestion of increased infant mortality in trials conducted in Africa (RR 1.07; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.15).Individual-level characteristics such as sex, birth weight, gestational age and size, age at dosing, parity, time of breast feeding initiation, maternal education and maternal vitamin A supplementation did not modify the impact of NVAS. CONCLUSION NVAS reduced infant mortality in South Asia, in contexts where the prevalence of maternal vitamin A deficiency is moderate to severe and early infant mortality is high; but it had no beneficial effect on infant survival in Africa, in contexts where the prevalence of maternal vitamin A deficiency is lower, early infant mortality is low.
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Smith ER, Muhihi A, Mshamu S, Sudfeld CR, Noor RA, Spiegelman D, Shapiro RL, Masanja H, Fawzi W. The effect of neonatal vitamin A supplementation on morbidity and mortality at 12 months: a randomized trial. Int J Epidemiol 2018; 45:2112-2121. [PMID: 27789674 PMCID: PMC5841838 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyw238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Neonatal vitamin A supplementation (NVAS) is an intervention hypothesized to reduce infant morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of neonatal vitamin A supplementation in reducing infant morbidity and mortality and assess potential sources of heterogeneity of the effect of NVAS. Methods: We completed an individually randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in Tanzania. Infants were randomized within 3 days of birth to a single dose of vitamin A (50 000 IU) or placebo. We assessed infants at 1 and 3 days after supplementation, as well as 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after supplementation. We included all live births in the analysis and used relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to assess the risks of mortality and hospitalization by 12 months. We used general estimating equations to assess the incidence of morbidities during infancy. Results: A total of 31 999 infants were enrolled in the study between August 2010 and March 2013. At 12 months, vitamin A did not reduce all-cause infant mortality (RR 1.04; 95% CI 0.92-1.16), nor affect hospitalization (RR 1.09; 95% CI 0.97-1.22) or all-cause morbidity (RR 1.00; 95% CI 0.96-1.05). Postpartum maternal vitamin A supplementation modified the effect of neonatal vitamin A supplementation on mortality at 12 months (P-value, test for interaction = 0.04). Among infants born to women who received a mega-dose of vitamin A after delivery, NVAS appeared to increase the risk of death (RR 1.12; 95% CI 0.98-1.29), whereas the risk of death among infants born to women who did not receive a mega-dose was reduced (RR 0.86; 95% CI 0.70-1.06). We noted no modification of the effect of NVAS by infant gender, birthweight or maternal HIV status. Conclusion: NVAS did not affect the risk of death or incidence of common childhood morbidities. However, this study sheds light on potential sources of heterogeneity of the effect of neonatal vitamin A supplementation which should be further examined in a pooled analysis of all NVAS trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily R Smith
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alfa Muhihi
- Africa Academy of Public Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Salum Mshamu
- Africa Academy of Public Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Christopher R Sudfeld
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Donna Spiegelman
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.,Africa Academy of Public Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.,Department of Biostatistics.,Department of Epidemiology
| | - Roger L Shapiro
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Wafaie Fawzi
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Nutrition.,Department of Epidemiology
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10
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Prentice S. They Are What You Eat: Can Nutritional Factors during Gestation and Early Infancy Modulate the Neonatal Immune Response? Front Immunol 2017; 8:1641. [PMID: 29234319 PMCID: PMC5712338 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The ontogeny of the human immune system is sensitive to nutrition even in the very early embryo, with both deficiency and excess of macro- and micronutrients being potentially detrimental. Neonates are particularly vulnerable to infectious disease due to the immaturity of the immune system and modulation of nutritional immunity may play a role in this sensitivity. This review examines whether nutrition around the time of conception, throughout pregnancy, and in early neonatal life may impact on the developing infant immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Prentice
- Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Imdad A, Mayo‐Wilson E, Herzer K, Bhutta ZA. Vitamin A supplementation for preventing morbidity and mortality in children from six months to five years of age. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2017; 3:CD008524. [PMID: 28282701 PMCID: PMC6464706 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd008524.pub3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a major public health problem in low- and middle-income countries, affecting 190 million children under five years of age and leading to many adverse health consequences, including death. Based on prior evidence and a previous version of this review, the World Health Organization has continued to recommend vitamin A supplementation for children aged 6 to 59 months. There are new data available from recently published randomised trials since the previous publication of this review in 2010, and this update incorporates this information and reviews the evidence. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of vitamin A supplementation (VAS) for preventing morbidity and mortality in children aged six months to five years. SEARCH METHODS In March 2016 we searched CENTRAL, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, six other databases, and two trials registers. We also checked reference lists and contacted relevant organisations and researchers to identify additional studies. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and cluster-RCTs evaluating the effect of synthetic VAS in children aged six months to five years living in the community. We excluded studies involving children in hospital and children with disease or infection. We also excluded studies evaluating the effects of food fortification, consumption of vitamin A rich foods, or beta-carotene supplementation. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS For this update, two reviewers independently assessed studies for inclusion and abstracted data, resolving discrepancies by discussion. We performed meta-analyses for outcomes, including all-cause and cause-specific mortality, disease, vision, and side effects. We used the GRADE approach to assess the quality of the evidence. MAIN RESULTS We identified 47 studies (4 of which are new to this review), involving approximately 1,223,856 children. Studies took place in 19 countries: 30 (63%) in Asia, 16 of these in India; 8 (17%) in Africa; 7 (15%) in Latin America, and 2 (4%) in Australia. About one-third of the studies were in urban/periurban settings, and half were in rural settings; the remaining studies did not clearly report settings. Most of the studies included equal numbers of girls and boys and lasted about a year. The included studies were at variable overall risk of bias; however, evidence for the primary outcome was at low risk of bias. A meta-analysis for all-cause mortality included 19 trials (1,202,382 children). At longest follow-up, there was a 12% observed reduction in the risk of all-cause mortality for vitamin A compared with control using a fixed-effect model (risk ratio (RR) 0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.83 to 0.93; high-quality evidence). This result was sensitive to choice of model, and a random-effects meta-analysis showed a different summary estimate (24% reduction: RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.88); however, the confidence intervals overlapped with that of the fixed-effect model. Nine trials reported mortality due to diarrhoea and showed a 12% overall reduction for VAS (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.79 to 0.98; 1,098,538 participants; high-quality evidence). There was no significant effect for VAS on mortality due to measles, respiratory disease, and meningitis. VAS reduced incidence of diarrhoea (RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.82 to 0.87; 15 studies; 77,946 participants; low-quality evidence) and measles (RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.67; 6 studies; 19,566 participants; moderate-quality evidence). However, there was no significant effect on incidence of respiratory disease or hospitalisations due to diarrhoea or pneumonia. There was an increased risk of vomiting within the first 48 hours of VAS (RR 1.97, 95% CI 1.44 to 2.69; 4 studies; 10,541 participants; moderate-quality evidence). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Vitamin A supplementation is associated with a clinically meaningful reduction in morbidity and mortality in children. Therefore, we suggest maintaining the policy of universal supplementation for children under five years of age in populations at risk of VAD. Further placebo-controlled trials of VAS in children between six months and five years of age would not change the conclusions of this review, although studies that compare different doses and delivery mechanisms are needed. In populations with documented vitamin A deficiency, it would be unethical to conduct placebo-controlled trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aamer Imdad
- Vanderbilt University School of MedicineDepartment of Pediatrics, D. Brent Polk Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and NutritionNashvilleTNUSA37212
| | - Evan Mayo‐Wilson
- Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public HealthDepartment of Epidemiology615 North Wolfe StreetBaltimoreMarylandUSA21205
| | - Kurt Herzer
- Johns Hopkins School of MedicineTower 711600 North Wolfe St.BaltimoreMDUSA21287
| | - Zulfiqar A Bhutta
- Hospital for Sick ChildrenCentre for Global Child HealthTorontoONCanadaM5G A04
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Farid-Kapadia M, Joachim KC, Balasingham C, Clyburne-Sherin A, Offringa M. Are child-centric aspects in newborn and child health systematic review and meta-analysis protocols and reports adequately reported?-two systematic reviews. Syst Rev 2017; 6:31. [PMID: 28260528 PMCID: PMC5338085 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-017-0423-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence suggests that newborn and child health systematic reviews and meta-analyses exhibit poor quality in reporting. The "Preferred Reporting Items in Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis" (PRISMA) and PRISMA-Protocols (PRISMA-P) checklists have been developed to improve the reporting of systematic review results and protocols, respectively. We aimed to evaluate the clarity and transparency in reporting of child-centric items in child health systematic reviews (SRs) and SR protocols and to identify areas where reporting could be strengthened. METHODS Two preliminary lists of potential child-centric reporting items were used to examine current reporting. The Cochrane, DARE, MEDLINE, and EMBASE libraries were searched from 2010 to 2014 for systematic reviews that included children. Each report and protocol that met the inclusion criteria had their quality of reporting assessed by their reporting of child-centric items. Quality of reporting was assessed per whether one third, one to two thirds, or more than two thirds of papers complied with potential child-centric potential modifications/extensions to PRISMA and were analyzed by the following: (i) paper type (i.e., report vs. protocol), (ii) publication type (i.e., Cochrane vs. non-Cochrane), and (iii) population type (i.e., child-only vs. mixed populations vs. family/maternal). RESULTS Of the 414 eligible articles, 248 reports and 76 protocols were included. In 21 of 24 potential SR reporting items and 13 of 14 potential SR protocol reporting items, less than two thirds of papers met the child-centric reporting item requirements. Mixed population studies displayed significantly poorer reporting in comparison to child-only and family/maternal intervention studies for 11 potential SR reporting items (p < 0.05) and five potential SR protocol items (p < 0.05). When comparing non-Cochrane to Cochrane reports and protocols, five items in both lists were found to perform significantly poorer in non-Cochrane reports (p < 0.05). Significant differences in reporting quality were found in three of 14 items shared between the potential SR reporting items and potential SR protocol reporting items (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Newborn and child health systematic reviews and meta-analyses exhibit incomplete reporting, thereby hindering prudent decision-making by healthcare providers and policy makers. These results provide a rationale for the implementation of child-centric extensions and modifications to current PRISMA and PRISMA-P, such as to improve reporting in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mufiza Farid-Kapadia
- Toronto Outcomes Research in Child Health (TORCH), Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4 Canada
| | - Kariym C. Joachim
- Toronto Outcomes Research in Child Health (TORCH), Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4 Canada
| | - Chrinna Balasingham
- Toronto Outcomes Research in Child Health (TORCH), Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4 Canada
| | - April Clyburne-Sherin
- Toronto Outcomes Research in Child Health (TORCH), Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4 Canada
| | - Martin Offringa
- Toronto Outcomes Research in Child Health (TORCH), Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4 Canada
- Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Imdad A, Ahmed Z, Bhutta ZA. Vitamin A supplementation for the prevention of morbidity and mortality in infants one to six months of age. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016; 9:CD007480. [PMID: 27681486 PMCID: PMC6457829 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd007480.pub3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vitamin A deficiency is a significant public health problem in low- and middle-income countries. Vitamin A supplementation provided to infants less than six months of age is one of the strategies to improve the nutrition of infants at high risk of vitamin A deficiency and thus potentially reduce their mortality and morbidity. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effect of synthetic vitamin A supplementation in infants one to six months of age in low- and middle-income countries, irrespective of maternal antenatal or postnatal vitamin A supplementation status, on mortality, morbidity and adverse effects. SEARCH METHODS We used the standard search strategy of Cochrane Neonatal to search the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL 2016, Issue 2), MEDLINE via PubMed (1966 to 5 March 2016), Embase (1980 to 5 March 2016) and CINAHL (1982 to 5 March 2016). We also searched clinical trials databases, conference proceedings and the reference lists of retrieved articles for randomised controlled trials and quasi-randomised trials. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised or quasi-randomised, individually or cluster randomised trials involving synthetic vitamin A supplementation compared to placebo or no intervention provided to infants one to six months of age were eligible. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors assessed the studies for eligibility and assessed their risk of bias and collected data on outcomes. MAIN RESULTS The review included 12 studies (reported in 22 publications). The included studies assigned 24,846 participants aged one to six months to vitamin A supplementation or control group. There was no effect of vitamin A supplementation for the primary outcome of all-cause mortality based on seven studies that included 21,339 (85%) participants (risk ratio (RR) 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.89 to 1.25; I2 = 0%; test for heterogeneity: P = 0.79; quality of evidence: moderate). Also, there was no effect of vitamin A supplementation on mortality or morbidity due to diarrhoea and respiratory tract infection. There was an increased risk of bulging fontanelle within 24 to 72 hours of supplementation in the vitamin A group compared to control (RR 3.10, 95% CI 1.89 to 5.09; I2 = 9%, test for heterogeneity: P = 0.36; quality of evidence: high). There was no reported subsequent increased risk of death, convulsions or irritability in infants who developed bulging fontanelle after vitamin A supplementation, and it resolved in most cases within 72 hours. There was no increased risk of other adverse effects such as vomiting, irritability, diarrhoea, fever and convulsions in the vitamin A supplementation group compared to control. Vitamin A supplementation did not have any statistically significant effect on vitamin A deficiency (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.06; I2 = 27%; test for heterogeneity: P = 0.25; quality of evidence: moderate). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS There is no convincing evidence that vitamin A supplementation for infants one to six months of age results in a reduction in infant mortality or morbidity in low- and middle-income countries. There is an increased risk of bulging fontanelle with vitamin A supplementation in this age group; however, there were no reported subsequent complications because of this adverse effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aamer Imdad
- Vanderbilt University School of MedicineDepartment of Pediatrics, D. Brent Polk Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and NutritionNashvilleTNUSA37212
| | | | - Zulfiqar A Bhutta
- Hospital for Sick ChildrenCenter for Global Child HealthTorontoONCanadaM5G A04
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Rautiainen S, Manson JE, Lichtenstein AH, Sesso HD. Dietary supplements and disease prevention - a global overview. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2016; 12:407-20. [PMID: 27150288 DOI: 10.1038/nrendo.2016.54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Dietary supplements are widely used and offer the potential to improve health if appropriately targeted to those in need. Inadequate nutrition and micronutrient deficiencies are prevalent conditions that adversely affect global health. Although improvements in diet quality are essential to address these issues, dietary supplements and/or food fortification could help meet requirements for individuals at risk of deficiencies. For example, supplementation with vitamin A and iron in developing countries, where women of reproductive age, infants and children often have deficiencies; with folic acid among women of reproductive age and during pregnancy; with vitamin D among infants and children; and with calcium and vitamin D to ensure bone health among adults aged ≥65 years. Intense debate surrounds the benefits of individual high-dose micronutrient supplementation among well-nourished individuals because the alleged beneficial effects on chronic diseases are not consistently supported. Daily low-dose multivitamin supplementation has been linked to reductions in the incidence of cancer and cataracts, especially among men. Baseline nutrition is an important consideration in supplementation that is likely to modify its effects. Here, we provide a detailed summary of dietary supplements and health outcomes in both developing and developed countries to help guide decisions about dietary supplement recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Rautiainen
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - JoAnn E Manson
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
| | - Alice H Lichtenstein
- Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, USA
| | - Howard D Sesso
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
- Division of Aging, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
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Abstract
BACKGROUND In areas where vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a public health concern, the maternal dietary intake of vitamin A may be not sufficient to meet either the maternal nutritional requirements, or those of the breastfed infant, due the low retinol concentrations in breast milk. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effects of vitamin A supplementation for postpartum women on maternal and infant health. SEARCH METHODS We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (8 February 2016), LILACS (1982 to December 2015), Web of Science (1945 to December 2015), and the reference lists of retrieved studies. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or cluster-randomised trials that assessed the effects of vitamin A supplementation for postpartum women on maternal and infant health (morbidity, mortality and vitamin A nutritional status). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently assessed trials for inclusion, conducted data extraction, assessed risk of bias and checked for accuracy. We assessed the quality of the evidence using the GRADE approach. MAIN RESULTS Fourteen trials of mainly low or unclear risk of bias, enrolling 25,758 women and infant pairs were included. The supplementation schemes included high, single or double doses of vitamin A (200,000 to 400,000 internation units (IU)), or 7.8 mg daily beta-carotene compared with placebo, no treatment, other (iron); or higher (400,000 IU) versus lower dose (200,000 IU). In all trials, a considerable proportion of infants were at least partially breastfed until six months. Supplement (vitamin A as retinyl, water-miscible or beta-carotene) 200,000 to 400,000 IU versus control (placebo or no treatment) Maternal: We did not find evidence that vitamin A supplementation reduced maternal mortality at 12 months (hazard ratio (HR) 1.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.44 to 2.21; 8577 participants; 1 RCT, moderate-quality evidence). Effects were less certain at six months (risk ratio (RR) 0.50, 95% CI 0.09 to 2.71; 564 participants; 1 RCT; low-quality evidence). The effect on maternal morbidity (diarrhoea, respiratory infections, fever) was uncertain because the quality of evidence was very low (50 participants, 1 RCT). We found insufficient evidence that vitamin A increases abdominal pain (RR 1.28, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.73; 786 participants; 1 RCT; low-quality evidence). We found low-quality evidence that vitamin A supplementation increased breast milk retinol concentrations by 0.20 µmol/L at three to three and a half months (mean difference (MD) 0.20 µmol/L, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.31; 837 participants; 6 RCTs). Infant: We did not find evidence that vitamin A supplementation reduced infant mortality at two to 12 months (RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.52; 6090 participants; 5 RCTs; low-quality evidence). Effects on morbidity (gastroenteritis at three months) was uncertain (RR 6.03, 95% CI 0.30 to 121.82; 84 participants; 1 RCT; very low-quality evidence). There was low-quality evidence for the effect on infant adverse outcomes (bulging fontanelle at 24 to 48 hours) (RR 2.00, 95% CI 0.61 to 6.55; 444 participants; 1 RCT). Supplement (vitamin A as retinyl) 400,000 IU versus 200,000 IUThree studies (1312 participants) were included in this comparison. None of the studies assessed maternal mortality, maternal morbidity or infant mortality. Findings from one study showed that there may be little or no difference in infant morbidity between the doses (diarrhoea, respiratory illnesses, and febrile illnesses) (312 participants, data not pooled). No firm conclusion could be drawn on the impact on maternal and infant adverse outcomes (limited data available).The effect on breast milk retinol was also uncertain due to the small amount of information available. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS There was no evidence of benefit from different doses of vitamin A supplementation for postpartum women on maternal and infant mortality and morbidity, compared with other doses or placebo. Although maternal breast milk retinol concentrations improved with supplementation, this did not translate to health benefits for either women or infants. Few studies reported on maternal and infant mortality and morbidity. Future studies should include these important outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julicristie M Oliveira
- School of Applied Sciences, University of CampinasRua Pedro Zaccaria, 1300LimeiraSão PauloBrazil13484‐350
| | - Roman Allert
- Medical Center ‐ University of FreiburgCochrane GermanyBerliner Allee 29FreiburgBWGermany79110
- University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe UniversityDepartment of Obstetrics and GynaecologyTheodor‐Stern‐Kai 7FrankfurtHessenGermany60596
| | - Christine E East
- Monash University/Monash HealthSchool of Nursing and Midwifery/Maternity Services246 Clayton RoadClaytonVictoriaAustralia3168
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Abe SK, Balogun OO, Ota E, Takahashi K, Mori R. Supplementation with multiple micronutrients for breastfeeding women for improving outcomes for the mother and baby. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016; 2:CD010647. [PMID: 26887903 PMCID: PMC8783742 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd010647.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Globally, more than two billion people are estimated to be deficient in key vitamins and minerals, particularly iodine, iron and zinc. The majority of these people live in low-income settings and are typically deficient in more than one micronutrient. However, micronutrient deficiency among breastfeeding mothers and their infants also remains an issue in high-income settings, specifically among women who avoid meat and/or milk, women who may lack sufficient supplies of vitamin B12 and vitamin D, and/or women who are iron-deficient. Young children, pregnant and lactating women are particularly vulnerable to micronutrient deficiencies. They not only have a relatively greater need for vitamins and minerals because of their physiological state, but are also more susceptible to the harmful consequences of deficiencies. Multiple-micronutrient supplementation might be an option to solve these problems. OBJECTIVES The objective of this review was to evaluate the effects of multiple-micronutrient supplementation in breastfeeding mothers on maternal and infant outcomes. SEARCH METHODS We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (30 September 2015) and reference lists of retrieved studies. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials of multiple-micronutrient supplementation of three or more micronutrients versus placebo, no supplementation or supplementation with two or fewer micronutrients, irrespective of dosage of micronutrients, in breastfeeding mothers. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently assessed trials for inclusion and risk of bias, extracted data and checked them for accuracy. MAIN RESULTS We found no studies that compared multiple-micronutrient supplementation (with three or more micronutrients) versus supplementation with two or fewer micronutrients.Two small studies (involving a total of 52 women) were included. One study compared multiple micronutrients with placebo and the other study compared multiple micronutrients with a group who received no supplementation. The studies were carried out in Brazil (36 adolescent mothers) and the USA (16 women) and included women with a low socioeconomic status. A lack of information in the study reports meant that risk of bias could not be adequately assessed (unclear risk of bias for many domains). There were no quantitative data for any of this review's outcomes so meta-analysis was not possible.Neither of the studies reported on the primary outcomes of interest in this review: maternal morbidity (febrile illness, respiratory tract infection, diarrhoea), adverse effects of micronutrients within three days of receiving the supplement, infant mortality (defined as a child dying before completing the first year of age).One study reported qualitatively on maternal anaemia (a secondary outcome of this review) - the study found that multiple-micronutrient supplementation was effective for recuperating from anaemia but there were no data for inclusion in our analyses. Maternal satisfaction was not reported in the included studies. Similarly, none of this review's infant secondary outcomes were reported in the included studies: clinical micronutrient deficiency; morbidity episodes (febrile illness, respiratory tract infection, diarrhoea, other), adverse effects of micronutrients within three days of receiving the supplement. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS We found no evidence to quantitatively assess the effectiveness of multiple-micronutrient supplementation in improving health outcomes in mother and baby. The results of this review are limited by the small numbers of studies available, small sample sizes and the studies not reporting on the outcomes of interest in this review. There is no evidence to evaluate potential adverse effects of multiple-micronutrient supplements, particularly excess dosages.There is a need for high-quality studies to assess the effectiveness and safety of multiple-micronutrient supplementation for breastfeeding women for improving outcomes for the mother and her baby. Further research should focus on whether multiple-micronutrient supplementation during lactation compared with none, a placebo or supplementation with fewer than two micronutrients is beneficial to maternal and infant health outcomes. Future studies should collect data on outcomes beyond micronutrient concentrations, for example: maternal and infant morbidity, adverse effects, maternal satisfaction, the risks of excess supplementation, and potential adverse interactions between the micronutrients and the other outcomes. This would help to bridge the gap between research on intermediary outcomes and health outcomes in order to develop sound policy in this field. Future studies could more precisely assess a variety of multiple-micronutrient combinations and different dosages and look at how these affect maternal and infant health outcomes. Larger studies with longer follow-up would improve the quality of studies and provide stronger evidence. In most of the included studies, bias could not be adequately assessed due to lack of information, therefore attention should be given to adequate methods of randomisation and allocation concealment, adequate methods of blinding of the participants, providers and the outcome assessors to improve the methodological quality of studies in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah K Abe
- The University of TokyoDepartment of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of MedicineMedical Building No. 3Hongo Campus, 7‐3‐1 HongoTokyoJapan113‐0033
| | - Olukunmi O Balogun
- National Center for Child Health and DevelopmentDepartment of Health PolicyMedical Building No. 2, Hongo Campus2‐10‐1 OkuraTokyoTokyoJapan157‐8535
| | - Erika Ota
- National Center for Child Health and DevelopmentDepartment of Health PolicyMedical Building No. 2, Hongo Campus2‐10‐1 OkuraTokyoTokyoJapan157‐8535
| | - Kenzo Takahashi
- Teikyo UniversityGraduate School of Publlic Health2‐11‐1 KagaItabashiTokyoJapan173‐8605
| | - Rintaro Mori
- National Center for Child Health and DevelopmentDepartment of Health PolicyMedical Building No. 2, Hongo Campus2‐10‐1 OkuraTokyoTokyoJapan157‐8535
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Bailey RL, West KP, Black RE. The epidemiology of global micronutrient deficiencies. ANNALS OF NUTRITION AND METABOLISM 2015; 66 Suppl 2:22-33. [PMID: 26045325 DOI: 10.1159/000371618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 625] [Impact Index Per Article: 69.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Micronutrients are essential to sustain life and for optimal physiological function. Widespread global micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs) exist, with pregnant women and their children under 5 years at the highest risk. Iron, iodine, folate, vitamin A, and zinc deficiencies are the most widespread MNDs, and all these MNDs are common contributors to poor growth, intellectual impairments, perinatal complications, and increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Iron deficiency is the most common MND worldwide and leads to microcytic anemia, decreased capacity for work, as well as impaired immune and endocrine function. Iodine deficiency disorder is also widespread and results in goiter, mental retardation, or reduced cognitive function. Adequate zinc is necessary for optimal immune function, and deficiency is associated with an increased incidence of diarrhea and acute respiratory infections, major causes of death in those <5 years of age. Folic acid taken in early pregnancy can prevent neural tube defects. Folate is essential for DNA synthesis and repair, and deficiency results in macrocytic anemia. Vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of blindness worldwide and also impairs immune function and cell differentiation. Single MNDs rarely occur alone; often, multiple MNDs coexist. The long-term consequences of MNDs are not only seen at the individual level but also have deleterious impacts on the economic development and human capital at the country level. Perhaps of greatest concern is the cycle of MNDs that persists over generations and the intergenerational consequences of MNDs that we are only beginning to understand. Prevention of MNDs is critical and traditionally has been accomplished through supplementation, fortification, and food-based approaches including diversification. It is widely accepted that intervention in the first 1,000 days is critical to break the cycle of malnutrition; however, a coordinated, sustainable commitment to scaling up nutrition at the global level is still needed. Understanding the epidemiology of MNDs is critical to understand what intervention strategies will work best under different conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regan L Bailey
- Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.,USA
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Benn CS, Aaby P, Arts RJW, Jensen KJ, Netea MG, Fisker AB. An enigma: why vitamin A supplementation does not always reduce mortality even though vitamin A deficiency is associated with increased mortality. Int J Epidemiol 2015; 44:906-18. [PMID: 26142161 PMCID: PMC4521135 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyv117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is associated with increased mortality. To prevent VAD, WHO recommends high-dose vitamin A supplementation (VAS) every 4-6 months for children aged between 6 months and 5 years of age in countries at risk of VAD. The policy is based on randomized clinical trials (RCTs) conducted in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Recent RCTs indicate that the policy may have ceased to be beneficial. In addition, RCTs attempting to extend the benefits to younger children have yielded conflicting results. Stratified analyses suggest that whereas some subgroups benefit more than expected from VAS, other subgroups may experience negative effects. METHODS AND RESULTS We reviewed the potential modifiers of the effect of VAS. The variable effect of VAS was not explained by underlying differences in VAD. Rather, the effect may depend on the sex of the child, the vaccine status and previous supplementation with vitamin A. Vitamin A is known to affect the Th1/Th2 balance and, in addition, recent evidence suggests that vitamin A may also induce epigenetic changes leading to down-regulation of the innate immune response. Thus VAS protects against VAD but has also important and long-lasting immunological effects, and the effect of providing VAS may vary depending on the state of the immune system. CONCLUSIONS To design optimal VAS programmes which target those who benefit and avoid those harmed, more studies are needed. Work is ongoing to define whether neonatal VAS should be considered in subgroups. In the most recent RCT in older children, VAS doubled the mortality for males but halved mortality for females. Hence, we urgently need to re-assess the effect of VAS on older children in large-scale RCTs powered to study effect modification by sex and other potential effect modifiers, and with nested immunological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine S Benn
- Research Center for Vitamins and Vaccines (CVIVA), Bandim Health Project, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark, OPEN, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark / Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark,
| | - Peter Aaby
- Research Center for Vitamins and Vaccines (CVIVA), Bandim Health Project, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark, Bandim Health Project, INDEPTH Network, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau and
| | - Rob J W Arts
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Kristoffer J Jensen
- Research Center for Vitamins and Vaccines (CVIVA), Bandim Health Project, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mihai G Netea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ane B Fisker
- Research Center for Vitamins and Vaccines (CVIVA), Bandim Health Project, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark, Bandim Health Project, INDEPTH Network, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau and
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Masanja H, Smith ER, Muhihi A, Briegleb C, Mshamu S, Ruben J, Noor RA, Khudyakov P, Yoshida S, Martines J, Bahl R, Fawzi WW. Effect of neonatal vitamin A supplementation on mortality in infants in Tanzania (Neovita): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet 2015; 385:1324-32. [PMID: 25499543 PMCID: PMC4419827 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(14)61731-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Supplementation of vitamin A in children aged 6-59 months improves child survival and is implemented as global policy. Studies of the efficacy of supplementation of infants in the neonatal period have inconsistent results. We aimed to assess the efficacy of oral supplementation with vitamin A given to infants in the first 3 days of life to reduce mortality between supplementation and 180 days (6 months). METHODS We did an individually randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of infants born in the Morogoro and Dar es Salaam regions of Tanzania. Women were identified during antenatal clinic visits or in the labour wards of public health facilities in Dar es Salaam. In Kilombero, Ulanga, and Kilosa districts, women were seen at home as part of the health and demographic surveillance system. Newborn infants were eligible for randomisation if they were able to feed orally and if the family intended to stay in the study area for at least 6 months. We randomly assigned infants to receive one dose of 50,000 IU of vitamin A or placebo in the first 3 days after birth. Infants were randomly assigned in blocks of 20, and investigators, participants' families, and data analysis teams were masked to treatment assignment. We assessed infants on day 1 and day 3 after dosing, as well as at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after birth. The primary endpoint was mortality at 6 months, assessed by field interviews. The primary analysis included only children who were not lost to follow-up. This trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR), number ACTRN12610000636055. FINDINGS Between Aug 26, 2010, and March 3, 2013, 31,999 newborn babies were randomly assigned to receive vitamin A (n=15,995) or placebo (n=16,004; 15,428 and 15,464 included in analysis of mortality at 6 months, respectively). We did not find any evidence for a beneficial effect of vitamin A supplementation on mortality in infants at 6 months (26 deaths per 1000 livebirths in vitamin A vs 24 deaths per 1000 livebirths in placebo group; risk ratio 1·10, 95% CI 0·95-1·26; p=0·193). There was no evidence of a differential effect for vitamin A supplementation on mortality by sex; risk ratio for mortality at 6 months for boys was 1·08 (0·90-1·29) and for girls was 1·12 (0·91-1·39). There was also no evidence of adverse effects of supplementation within 3 days of dosing. INTERPRETATION Neonatal vitamin A supplementation did not result in any immediate adverse events, but had no beneficial effect on survival in infants in Tanzania. These results strengthen the evidence against a global policy recommendation for neonatal vitamin A supplementation. FUNDING Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to WHO.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emily R Smith
- Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Global Health and Population, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alfa Muhihi
- African Academy for Public Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Christina Briegleb
- Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Global Health and Population, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Salum Mshamu
- African Academy for Public Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Julia Ruben
- Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Global Health and Population, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ramadhani Abdallah Noor
- Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Global Health and Population, Boston, MA, USA; African Academy for Public Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Polyna Khudyakov
- Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Global Health and Population, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sachiyo Yoshida
- Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jose Martines
- Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Rajiv Bahl
- Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Wafaie W Fawzi
- Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Global Health and Population, Boston, MA, USA
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21
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Ahmad SM, Hossain MI, Bergman P, Kabir Y, Raqib R. The effect of postpartum vitamin A supplementation on breast milk immune regulators and infant immune functions: study protocol of a randomized, controlled trial. Trials 2015; 16:129. [PMID: 25872802 PMCID: PMC4389512 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-015-0654-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2014] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Because of limited impact on infant morbidity, mortality, and vitamin A status, the new guideline of the World Health Organization (WHO) does not recommend postpartum vitamin A supplementation (VAS) as a public health intervention in developing countries. However, breast milk contains numerous immune-protective components that are important for infant immune development, and several of these components are regulated by vitamin A. METHODS/DESIGN Postpartum women are being enrolled within 3 days (d) of delivery at a maternity clinic located in a slum area of Dhaka city and randomized to one of four postpartum VAS regimens (32/group, total 128). The regimens are as follows: Group 1: 200,000 IU VAS at <3 d and placebo at 6 weeks postpartum; Group 2: placebo at <3 d and 200,000 IU VAS at 6 weeks postpartum; Group 3: 200,000 IU VAS, both at <3 d and 6 weeks postpartum; Group 4: placebo, both at <3 d and 6 weeks postpartum. Breast milk samples at <3 d (before supplementation) and 4 months postpartum will be used to measure vitamin A and bioactive compounds. Infant blood samples at 2 and 4 months of age will be used to measure vitamin A, as well as innate and vaccine-specific immune responses. Dietary, anthropometric, and morbidity data are also being collected. DISCUSSION This is the first placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial of postnatal vitamin A supplementation to investigate the key bioactive compounds in breast milk, important for infant immunity, in relation to dose and time point of postpartum supplementation and whether such maternal supplementation improves infant immune status during the critical period of early infancy. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02043223 , 5 December 2013.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Md Iqbal Hossain
- Center for Nutrition and Food Security, icddr,b, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh.
| | - Peter Bergman
- Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, S-141 86, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Yearul Kabir
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh.
| | - Rubhana Raqib
- Center for Vaccine Sciences, icddr,b, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh.
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Jensen KJ, Ndure J, Plebanski M, Flanagan KL. Heterologous and sex differential effects of administering vitamin A supplementation with vaccines. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2014; 109:36-45. [PMID: 25477326 PMCID: PMC4288298 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/tru184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
WHO recommends high-dose vitamin A supplementation (VAS) to children from 6 months to 5 years of age in low-income countries, in order to prevent and treat vitamin A deficiency-associated morbidity and mortality. The current policy does not discriminate this recommendation either by sex or vaccination status of the child. There is accumulating evidence that the effects of VAS on morbidity, mortality and immunological parameters depend on concomitant vaccination status. Moreover, these interactions may manifest differently in males and females. Certain vaccines administered through the Expanded Program on Immunization have been shown to alter all-cause mortality from infections other than the vaccine-targeted disease. This review summarizes the evidence from observational studies and randomized-controlled trials of the effects of VAS on these so-called heterologous or non-specific effects of vaccines, with a focus on sex differences. In general, VAS seems to enhance the heterologous effects of vaccines, particularly for diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis and live measles vaccines, where some studies, although not unanimously, show a stronger interaction between VAS and vaccination in females. We suggest that vaccination status and sex should be considered when evaluating the effects of VAS in early life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristoffer J Jensen
- Research Center for Vitamins & Vaccines (CVIVA), Bandim Health Project, Statens Serum Institut, DK-2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark Projécto de Saúde Bandim, Indepth Network, Apartado 861,Codex 1004, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
| | | | - Magdalena Plebanski
- Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Monash University, 89 Commercial Road, Prahran, Victoria 3004, Australia
| | - Katie L Flanagan
- Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Monash University, 89 Commercial Road, Prahran, Victoria 3004, Australia
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Micronutrients for the Prevention and Treatment of Diarrhea in Children in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. CURRENT TROPICAL MEDICINE REPORTS 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s40475-014-0014-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Tovey D. The role of The Cochrane Collaboration in support of the WHO Nutrition Guidelines. Adv Nutr 2014; 5:35-9. [PMID: 24425720 PMCID: PMC3884097 DOI: 10.3945/an.113.004895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
This article describes the background and contribution of The Cochrane Collaboration to the WHO Nutrition Guidelines program. Systematic reviews, augmented by the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology for assessing the quality of a body of evidence, form the evidence basis for WHO guidelines. Our shared experience of working together has highlighted a number of issues that are challenging, such as decisions made about selecting appropriate questions for evidence synthesis and the nature of study types that are included, in particular the decision on whether or not to extend a search beyond randomized studies. Although the skills and experience required for evidence synthesis are different from those needed to determine recommendations for policy and practice, our experience suggests that some engagement between the two groups is mutually beneficial. Finally, our experience highlights the recognition that evidence of effectiveness is essential but by no means sufficient to guide decisions on recommendations. Programmatic and implementation considerations are important to guide decision making and the evidence basis for this may be limited; therefore, it is essential that groups involved in delivering interventions to populations are also engaged in the guidelines process.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Tovey
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
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25
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Abe SK, Balogun OO, Ota E, Mori R. Supplementation with multimicronutrients (excluding vitamin A) for breastfeeding women for improving outcomes for the mother and baby. THE COCHRANE DATABASE OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS 2013. [DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd010647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Promoting appropriate management of diarrhea: a systematic review of literature for advocacy and action: UNICEF-PHFI series on newborn and child health, India. Indian Pediatr 2013; 49:627-49. [PMID: 22962237 DOI: 10.1007/s13312-012-0134-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Scaling up of evidence-based management and prevention of childhood diarrhea is a public health priority in India, and necessitates robust literature review, for advocacy and action. OBJECTIVE To identify, synthesize and summarize current evidence to guide scaling up of management of diarrhea among under-five children in India, and identify existing knowledge gaps. METHODS A set of questions pertaining to the management (prevention, treatment, and control) of childhood diarrhea was identified through a consultative process. A modified systematic review process developed a priori was used to identify, synthesize and summarize, research evidence and operational information, pertaining to the problem in India. Areas with limited or no evidence were identified as knowledge gaps. RESULTS Childhood diarrhea is a significant public health problem in India; the point (two weeks) prevalence is 9 to 20%. Diarrhea accounts for 14% of the total deaths in under-five children in India. Infants aged 6 to 24 months are at the highest risk of diarrhea. There is a lack of robust nation-wide data on etiology; rotavirus and diarrheogenic E.coli are the most common organisms identified. The current National Guidelines are sufficient for case-management of childhood diarrhea. Exclusive breastfeeding, handwashing and point of use water treatment are effective strategies for prevention of all-cause diarrhea; rotavirus vaccines are efficacious to prevent rotavirus specific diarrhea. ORS and zinc are the mainstay of management during an episode of childhood diarrhea but have low coverage in India due to policy and programmatic barriers, whereas indiscriminate use of antibiotics and other drugs is common. Zinc therapy given during diarrhea can be upscaled through existing infrastructure is introducing the training component and information, education and communication activities. CONCLUSION This systematic review summarizes current evidence on childhood diarrhea and provides evidence to inform child health programs in India.
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Abstract
About three-fourths of the total world population live in the tropics but consume only 6% of worldwide food production and contribute 15% of the world's net revenue explaining the short life expectancy, high infantile mortality, and poor daily caloric intake; moreover, lack of clean drinking water and deficient sanitation promote water-borne infections, diarrhea, and risk of malabsorption that contribute to the prevalence of malnutrition in the tropics. One-third of the world's population consumes insufficient iodine increasing the risk for mental retardation and deafness due to maternal hypothyroidism. The main nutritional syndromes comprise protein-energy malnutrition (marasmus and kwashiorkor); nutritional neuropathies, myelopathies and neuromyelopathies, as well as specific deficiencies of vitamins and micronutrients including iodine, iron, zinc, and selenium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo C Román
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College and Nantz National Alzheimer Center, Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston, TX, USA.
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Saeterdal I, Mora JO, De-Regil LM. Fortification of staple foods with vitamin A for preventing vitamin A deficiency. THE COCHRANE DATABASE OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS 2012. [DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd010068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ingvil Saeterdal
- Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services; PO Box 7004 St Olavs Plass Oslo Norway N-0130
| | - Jose O Mora
- Independent consultant; c/o 14320 Woodcrest Dr Rockville Maryland USA 20853
| | - Luz Maria De-Regil
- World Health Organization; Evidence and Programme Guidance, Department of Nutrition for Health and Development; 20 Avenue Appia Geneva Switzerland 1211
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Mayo-Wilson E, Imdad A, Herzer K, Yakoob MY, Bhutta ZA. Vitamin A supplements for preventing mortality, illness, and blindness in children aged under 5: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2011; 343:d5094. [PMID: 21868478 PMCID: PMC3162042 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.d5094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/07/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine if vitamin A supplementation is associated with reductions in mortality and morbidity in children aged 6 months to 5 years. DESIGN Systematic review and meta-analysis. Two reviewers independently assessed studies for inclusion. Data were double extracted; discrepancies were resolved by discussion. Meta-analyses were performed for mortality, illness, vision, and side effects. DATA SOURCES Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in the Cochrane Library, Medline, Embase, Global Health, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences, metaRegister of Controlled Trials, and African Index Medicus. Databases were searched to April 2010 without restriction by language or publication status. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES Randomised trials of synthetic oral vitamin A supplements in children aged 6 months to 5 years. Studies of children with current illness (such as diarrhoea, measles, and HIV), studies of children in hospital, and studies of food fortification or β carotene were excluded. RESULTS 43 trials with about 215,633 children were included. Seventeen trials including 194,483 participants reported a 24% reduction in all cause mortality (rate ratio=0.76, 95% confidence interval 0.69 to 0.83). Seven trials reported a 28% reduction in mortality associated with diarrhoea (0.72, 0.57 to 0.91). Vitamin A supplementation was associated with a reduced incidence of diarrhoea (0.85, 0.82 to 0.87) and measles (0.50, 0.37 to 0.67) and a reduced prevalence of vision problems, including night blindness (0.32, 0.21 to 0.50) and xerophthalmia (0.31, 0.22 to 0.45). Three trials reported an increased risk of vomiting within the first 48 hours of supplementation (2.75, 1.81 to 4.19). CONCLUSIONS Vitamin A supplementation is associated with large reductions in mortality, morbidity, and vision problems in a range of settings, and these results cannot be explained by bias. Further placebo controlled trials of vitamin A supplementation in children between 6 and 59 months of age are not required. However, there is a need for further studies comparing different doses and delivery mechanisms (for example, fortification). Until other sources are available, vitamin A supplements should be given to all children at risk of deficiency, particularly in low and middle income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan Mayo-Wilson
- Centre for Evidence-Based Intervention, Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, UK
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