title: Vitamin A absorption in ascariasis.
abstract: Vitamin A absorption was studied in a group of 28 adult patients with ascariasis and 12 healthy adult controls, using a simplified vitamin A absorption test. In over 70% of the patients with ascariasis malabsorption of vitamin A was demonstrated. Stool egg counts for ascaris were not related to the degree of vitamin A malabsorption. Of the 23 patients in whom a D-xylose absorption test was performed, seven showed excretion less than 20% in 5 hr. Immediately after expulsion of the worms, vitamin A absorption improved in 13 out of 14 patients tested (in nine to normal level). The results of this study suggest that ascariasis in populations on marginal intakes of vitamin A and its precursors is an important contributing factor in producing clinical vitamin A deficiency.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001196:Ascariasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D001200:Ascaris; D002648:Child; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008286:Malabsorption Syndromes / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012676:Senna Extract / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000378:metabolism*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000469:parasitology; D014994:Xylose / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010879:Piperazines; D014801:Vitamin A; D012676:Senna Extract; D014994:Xylose