Vitamin A status of Indonesian children infected with Ascaris lumbricoides after dosing with vitamin A supplements and albendazole.
In developing countries, both marginal vitamin A status and intestinal helminths are common among children. Indonesian children (n = 309, 0.6-6.6 y), known to be infected with Ascaris lumbricoides, were randomized into six different treatment groups (A-F). The treatments included 210 mumol vitamin A supplement and a dose of 400 mg albendazole (5-propylthio-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl carbamic acid methyl ester) administered orally either at the same health visit (Groups B and F) or at different contact times during a 1-mo period (groups A, C, D and E). Vitamin A status was assessed both before and 3-4 wk after the treatments by the modified relative dose response (MRDR) test. Vitamin A supplementation was most important in improving the vitamin A status (P < 0.0001) of these children, whereas treatment for ascariasis alone (P = 0.370) and the statistical interaction between treatment for ascariasis and vitamin A (P = 0.752) were not. Serum retinol concentrations marginally improved (P = 0.051) in two of the groups that received vitamin A and albendazole but not in the third group that received vitamin A only. The MRDR test proved a better discriminator of the effects of these treatments on vitamin A status than changes in serum retinol concentrations.
Tanumihardjo
S A
SA
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Iowa State University, Ames, USA.
Permaesih
D
D
Muherdiyantiningsih
Rustan
E
E
Rusmil
K
K
Fatah
A C
AC
Wilbur
S
S
Muhilal
Karyadi
D
D
Olson
J A
JA
D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001196:Ascariasis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D017164:Ascaris lumbricoides / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control
D000871:Anthelmintics; D014801:Vitamin A; D015766:Albendazole