Vitamin supplements reduce deaths caused by measles and diarrhea

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-12/w-vsr120310.php

Public release date: 7-Dec-2010

Contact: Jennifer Beal
healthnews@wiley.com
44-012-437-70633
Wiley-Blackwell
Vitamin supplements reduce deaths caused by measles and diarrhea

Vitamin A supplements are still an effective way to reduce childhood death and disease. A new study by Cochrane researchers strongly endorses the continuation of vitamin A supplementation programmes, which reduce the incidence of measles and diarrhoea and ultimately save lives.

Vitamin A deficiency is a common problem in low and middle income countries. People whose diets do not include enough of the vitamin may have impaired body functions, and be more susceptible to blindness, infection and early death. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends vitamin A supplements for pregnant mothers and children. However, controversies have recently been raised regarding the effectiveness of vitamin A supplementation programmes in developing countries...

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Vitamin supplements reduce deaths caused by measles and diarrhea

...


The 43 trials were included in the review, which involved 215,633 children between six months and five years of age. All except one trial used the standard dose of vitamin A as recommended by the WHO.

Overall, giving vitamin A capsules reduced the risk of death from any cause by 24 per cent compared to placebos or usual treatment. This equates to saving the lives of almost a million vitamin A deficient children a year.

The review by Cochrane researchers suggests that much of the beneficial effect vitamin A supplementation in developing countries may be related to prevention of measles and diarrhoea.

....

Read more: Vitamin supplements cut measles risk - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...s-risk-/articleshow/7065152.cms#ixzz17ZEGnqIi