Adjuvant effect of vitamin A on recurrent lower urinary tract infections.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of the present paper was to investigate the effects of vitamin A supplementation on recurrent lower urinary tract infections (RUTI).


METHODS
Twenty-four patients with non-complicated RUTI were included in a placebo-controlled, double-blinded study. Twelve patients received a single dose of 200,000 IU vitamin A in addition to antimicrobial therapy. Patient and control groups (each containing 12 patients) were followed for up to 1 year and were evaluated for eradication and frequency of lower urinary tract infections (UTI). Serum levels of vitamin A and beta-carotene were determined periodically.


RESULTS
During the first 6 months follow-up period the infection rate of the vitamin A-supplemented group reduced from 3.58 to 0.75 per 6 months, and in the subsequent 6 months the infection rate was 1.75 per 6 months. These values were calculated as 2.75, 2.83 and 2.66, respectively, in the placebo group.


CONCLUSIONS
Vitamin A supplementation may have an adjuvant effect on the treatment of RUTI.
Yilmaz
Aygen
A
Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey. aygen@akdeniz.edu.tr
Bahat
Elif
E
Yilmaz
Gulsun Gulay
GG
Hasanoglu
Alev
A
Akman
Sema
S
Guven
Ayfer Gur
AG
D000284:Administration, Oral; D002648:Child; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014563:Urodynamics; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood
D014815:Vitamins; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A