title: [High-dose vitamin A supplementation decreases childhood mortality rates in low-income countries--can the results be improved?].
abstract: Many large intervention trials have shown that high-dose vitamin A supplementation decreases overall childhood mortality rates by 23-30%, making it one of the most cost-effective interventions in low-income countries. However, with regard to morbidity and the immunological mechanisms behind the beneficial effect on mortality rates, the results are less clear. Furthermore, vitamin A seems to be beneficial in some but not all age groups, and smaller doses may be even better than higher doses. It seems likely that by pursuing these inconsistent observations, vitamin A supplementation programmes can be optimised.
authors.affiliation: Guinea-Bissau/Statens Serum Institut, Bandim Health Project, og Københavns Universitet. cb@ssi.dk
authors.forename: Christine Stabell
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Benn
authors.forename: Birgitte Rode
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Diness
authors.forename: Ane Baerent
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Fisker
authors.forename: Dorthe
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Christoffersen
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Friis
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality; D011203:Poverty; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A