[Evidence of the impact of vitamin A supplementation on maternal and child health].
The aim of this article was to collect the results of systematic reviews and meta-analyses that evaluated the effect of vitamin A supplementation on child growth and maternal, fetal, and child morbidity and mortality. A detailed search was performed in PubMed, Cochrane Library, LILACS, PAHO, CAPES, USP Digital Thesis Library, and UNIFESP Collection Database. A total of 14 studies published from 1993 to 2006 were included in the review. There is evidence that vitamin A supplementation in children is associated with a reduction of 23% to 30% in mortality risk and attenuation in the severity of measles and diarrhea. There is no evidence of the intervention's impact on pneumonia incidence or mortality in children without measles. Vitamin A also appears to be protective in children and pregnant women with HIV/AIDS, with a positive effect on child morbidity and mortality and birth weight. There is no evidence that supplementation in pregnant and lactating women reduces infant morbidity and mortality, but there is an indication that vitamin A protects against maternal morbidity.
Oliveira
Julicristie Machado de
JM
Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo 715, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Rondó
Patrícia Helen de Carvalho
PH
D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D046688:Child Mortality; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D012196:Review Literature as Topic; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000150:complications*
D014801:Vitamin A