title: Effect of simultaneous supplementation of vitamin A and iron on diarrheal and respiratory tract infection in preschool children in Chengdu City, China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to investigate whether vitamin A combined with iron supplementation for preschool children resulted in improved changes in children's infectious morbidity.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this randomized placebo-controlled and blinded field intervention trial, totally 445 preschoolers, ages 3 to 6 y old, were randomly selected. All children were randomly divided into four groups: vitamin A supplement-only group (group I), iron supplement-only group (group II), vitamin A and iron supplement group (group III), and no vitamin A and ferrous sulfate as placebo-control (group IV) for 6 mo. The morbidity of diarrhea and respiratory infections, were collected during supplementation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was evidence of the lowest incidence rate of respiratory-related illnesses and fewest symptoms of runny nose, cough, and fever for children in group III compared with children in groups I, II and IV (P < 0.05). Moreover, despite the undistinguished incidence rate of vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain, the rate of diarrhea-related illness was significantly lower for children in group III than for those in the other three groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The beneficial affects on infectious morbidity over 6 mo, highlight the potential of vitamin A plus an iron supplement for preschool-aged children.
authors.affiliation: Center for Child Health Care and Diagnosis and Treatment of Child Growth and Development Disorders, Chengdu Women and Children's Central Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xin-ran
authors.initials: XR
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hong-yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Gui-Ying
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mao
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003371:Cough / Q000517:prevention & control; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000517:prevention & control; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D019266:Iron, Dietary; D014801:Vitamin A
keywords: Infectious morbidity; Iron; Preschool children; Supplementation; Vitamin A