Impact of neonatal vitamin A supplementation on infant morbidity and mortality.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether vitamin A supplementation at birth could reduce infant morbidity and mortality.


METHODS
We conducted a placebo-controlled trial among 2067 Indonesian neonates who received either 52 micromol (50,000 IU) orally administered vitamin A or placebo on the first day of life. Infants were followed up at 1 year to determine the impact of this intervention on infant mortality. A subgroup (n = 470) was also examined at 4 and 6 months of age to examine the impact on morbidity.


RESULTS
Vital status was confirmed in 89% of infants in both groups at 1 year. There were 19 deaths in the control group and 7 in the vitamin A group (relative risk = 0.36; 95% confidence interval = 0.16, 0.87). The impact was stronger among boys, infants of normal compared with low birth weight, and those of greater ponderal index. Among infants examined at 4 months of age, the 1-week period prevalence of common morbidities was similar for vitamin A and control infants. However, during this same 4-month period, 73% and 51% more control infants were brought for medical treatment for cough (p = 0.008) and fever (p = 0.063), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Neonatal vitamin A supplementation may reduce the infant mortality rate and the prevalence of severe respiratory infection among young infants.
Humphrey
J H
JH
Division of Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Agoestina
T
T
Wu
L
L
Usman
A
A
Nurachim
M
M
Subardja
D
D
Hidayat
S
S
Tielsch
J
J
West
K P
KP
Sommer
A
A
D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D015996:Survival Rate; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014801:Vitamin A