Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled clinical trial of efficacy of vitamin A treatment in non-measles childhood pneumonia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact on clinical recovery and severity of the addition of large doses of vitamin A to the standard treatment for childhood pneumonia.


METHODS
A randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial.


METHODS
Study children were recruited at a public hospital in Recife, north east Brazil, an area of marginal vitamin A deficiency.


METHODS
472 children aged 6 to 59 months with clinical diagnosis of pneumonia.


METHODS
200,000 IU (infants) or 400,000 IU (1-4 year olds) of vitamin A in oil or similar capsules of placebo divided into two daily oral doses, in addition to the standard treatment.


METHODS
Duration of the episode and incidence of adverse outcomes.


RESULTS
The groups were similar with respect to overall duration of pneumonia and incidence of adverse outcomes. Children who received vitamin A, however, were less likely to have fever by day 3 (P = 0.008) and were 29% less likely to fail to respond to the first line antibiotic (P = 0.054).


CONCLUSIONS
There was little evidence for an effect of vitamin A treatment on the immediate outcome of the pneumonia episode.
Nacul
L C
LC
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, Recife-PE, Brazil.
Kirkwood
B R
BR
Arthur
P
P
Morris
S S
SS
Magalhães
M
M
Fink
M C
MC
D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014801:Vitamin A