title: Interrelationship between diarrhea and vitamin A deficiency: is vitamin A deficiency a risk factor for diarrhea?
abstract: A cross-sectional study, a follow-up study and an evaluation of impact of community-based distribution of vitamin A capsules (200,000 IU) were conducted in Omdurman (Sudan) between November, 1988, and March, 1989. In the cross-sectional survey 1441 children less than 5 years of age participated, which established the baseline values for plasma retinol-binding protein. During the follow-up period 290 cases of diarrhea occurred. Low concentrations of plasma retinol-binding protein (less than 1.85 mg/dl) proved to be a risk factor for diarrhea, especially in girls. The relative risk increased after the second year of life. Children who received vitamin A supplementation before commencement of the study had a lower incidence of diarrhea. The protective effect of vitamin A supplementation was greater in girls (relative risk, 0.297; 95% confidence interval, 0.240 to 0.368) than in boys (relative risk, 0.404; 95% confidence interval, 0.352 to 0.464).
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Sudan.
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: el Bushra
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Ash
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Coulson
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Neumann
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013397:Sudan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma