title: Effect of deworming on physical fitness of school-aged children in Yunnan, China: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is considerable debate on the health impacts of soil-transmitted helminth infections. We assessed effects of deworming on physical fitness and strength of children in an area in Yunnan, People's Republic of China, where soil-transmitted helminthiasis is highly endemic.
  
  
  METHODS
  The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted between October 2011 and May 2012. Children, aged 9-12 years, were treated with either triple-dose albendazole or placebo, and monitored for 6 months post-treatment. The Kato-Katz and Baermann techniques were used for the diagnosis of soil-transmitted helminth infections. Physical fitness was assessed with a 20-m shuttle run test, where the maximum aerobic capacity within 1 min of exhaustive exercise (VO2 max estimate) and the number of 20-m laps completed were recorded. Physical strength was determined with grip strength and standing broad jump tests. Body height and weight, the sum of skinfolds, and hemoglobin levels were recorded as secondary outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children receiving triple-dose albendazole scored slightly higher in the primary and secondary outcomes than placebo recipients, but the difference lacked statistical significance. Trichuris trichiura-infected children had 1.6 ml kg(-1) min(-1) (P = 0.02) less increase in their VO2 max estimate and completed 4.6 (P = 0.04) fewer 20-m laps than at baseline compared to non-infected peers. Similar trends were detected in the VO2 max estimate and grip strength of children infected with hookworm and Ascaris lumbricoides, respectively. In addition, the increase in the VO2 max estimate from baseline was consistently higher in children with low-intensity T. trichiura and hookworm infections than in their peers with high-intensity infections of all soil-transmitted helminths (range: 1.9-2.1 ml kg(-1) min(-1); all P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found no strong evidence for significant improvements in physical fitness and anthropometric indicators due to deworming over a 6-month follow-up period. However, the negative effect of T. trichiura infections on physical fitness warrants further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Peiling
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yap
authors.affiliation: Helminthiasis Division, Yunnan Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Pu'er, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fang-Wei
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Helminthiasis Division, Yunnan Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Pu'er, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zun-Wei
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hattendorf
authors.affiliation: Menghai Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, Menghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Helminthiasis Division, Yunnan Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Pu'er, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jin-Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Susi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kriemler
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
authors.forename: Stefanie J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Krauth
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Nong
authors.initials: XN
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jürg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Utzinger
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Steinmann
mesh_terms: D015766:Albendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D015766:Albendazole