Vitamin A supplementation, morbidity, and serum acute-phase proteins in young Ghanaian children.
The association of vitamin A supplementation with concentrations of positive acute-phase proteins in the serum was investigated in the Child Health Study of the Ghana Vitamin A Supplementation Trials, a randomized, controlled trial of the effect of vitamin A on morbidity in children aged < 5 y. Mean serum concentrations of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, serum amyloid A, and C-reactive protein did not differ overall between the vitamin A-supplemented and placebo-treated groups. Treatment groups were then subdivided according to what symptoms children had experienced in the week before blood sampling. Acute-phase-protein responses to fever and cough were not affected by vitamin A supplementation. There was a tendency for vitamin A-supplemented children, but not placebo children, to have elevated acute-phase proteins in association with reported vomiting or severe diarrhea. The failure of unsupplemented children to mount an acute-phase response may have contributed to their increased morbidity from gastrointestinal symptoms.
Filteau
S M
SM
International Child Health, Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
Morris
S S
SS
Raynes
J G
JG
Arthur
P
P
Ross
D A
DA
Kirkwood
B R
BR
Tomkins
A M
AM
Gyapong
J O
JO
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005527:Food, Fortified; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009017:Morbidity; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000032:analysis; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000032:analysis; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D009961:Orosomucoid; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D014801:Vitamin A; D002097:C-Reactive Protein