title: Vitamin A status in children who are prone to respiratory tract infections.
abstract: The effect of Vitamin A supplementation on susceptibility to acute respiratory infections was investigated in a randomized controlled trial. One hundred and forty-seven preschool-age children with a history of frequent respiratory illness were randomized into Vitamin A supplemented (450 micrograms/day) and placebo groups. Respiratory symptoms were recorded on a daily basis over a period of 11 months. The children who received the supplement experienced 19% fewer episodes of respiratory symptomatology (P less than 0.05) than their placebo counterparts, despite the fact that their plasma retinol levels did not change. Children with a prior history of lower respiratory illness or of allergy benefited most from supplementation. The plausibility of a role for Vitamin A in the aetiology of respiratory proneness is reviewed.
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004032:Diet; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011897:Random Allocation; D011996:Records; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A