title: The effect of vitamin A status in children treated for cancer.
abstract: Chemotherapy for cancer can cause immunocompromise. The authors speculated that children with cancer and low vitamin A plasma levels were more susceptible to cancer treatment-related complications than children who are not vitamin A deficient. A cohort of 49 children with cancer were followed from diagnosis until death or for at least 5 years. Plasma retinol levels were determined at diagnosis. Complications of treatment were recorded. Children with low retinol levels at diagnosis tended to have more chance to develop febrile neutropenia (p = .052). Children with fever had lower mean vitamin A levels at diagnosis than those who did not suffer febrile episodes. In a childhood population with a high prevalence of vitamin A deficiency, routine vitamin A assessment and supplementation in children with cancer appears indicated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Children's Hospital, South Africa. gw1@sun.ac.za
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wessels
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Hesseling
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Stefan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Labadarios
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000209:etiology; D015996:Survival Rate; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A