title: Dynamics of conjunctival impression cytologic changes after vitamin A supplementation.
abstract: To investigate the chronological changes in conjunctival epithelium after supplementation with a massive oral dose of vitamin A, conjunctival impression cytology (CIC) with transfer was carried out repeatedly among 200 children aged 6-120 months in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in Chandigarh (India). Significant conversion to normal CIC started 71-80 d after vitamin A supplementation and by 101-110 d conversion had taken place in all children. Compared with the placebo group, plasma retinol concentration at 100 d post-supplement was found to be significantly higher in the vitamin A-supplemented group P = 0.04. This study demonstrates that CIC responds to a massive oral dose of vitamin A 3-4 months after supplementation. These findings should guide future studies and evaluations in which CIC is used to assess response to vitamin A interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Ganguly
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Walia
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D003906:Developing Countries; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D013997:Time Factors; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A