title: Effect of vitamin A and Zn supplementation on indices of vitamin A status, haemoglobin level and defecation of children with persistent diarrhea.
abstract: To investigate the effect of vitamin A and Zn supplementation on vitamin A status, haemoglobin level and defecation of children with persistent diarrhea, a total of 160 paediatric patients were randomly assigned to one of four intervention groups: daily supplementation of 1,500 IU VA for 14 days; daily Zn supplementation for 14 days; daily supplementation with both VA and Zn for 14 days; no supplementation. One hundred twenty-seven children with persistent diarrhea finished intervention (33 were lost to follow-up). Among the 127 children, 41 (32.28%) had anaemia, 104 (81.89%) had a VA deficiency and 38 (29.92%) had an iron insufficiency. Supplementation with VA or VA + Zn enhanced the serum VA levels and ameliorated anaemia. Supplementation with Zn and VA + Zn for 5 days significantly improved defecation, where the VA + Zn treatment resulted in superior outcomes. After 14 days of intervention, the total effectiveness rates were 93.94%, 96.77% and 96.67% in the three groups, significantly greater than that of the non-supplementation group (72.73%). These results indicate that single VA or concurrent VA + Zn supplementation can improve vitamin A status, haemoglobin level and defecation. However, concurrent VA + Zn supplementation is the optimal option and can shorten the duration of persistent diarrhea and markedly improve nutritional status. (www.clinicaltrials.gov registration number: ChiCTR-IOR-14005498).
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Zhongshan Second Road of Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400014, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Zhongshan Second Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400014, China.
authors: Yuting
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Zhongshan Second Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400014, China; Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Zhongshan Second Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400014, China.
authors: Yuan
authors: Y
authors: Gao
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Zhongshan Second Road of Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400014, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Zhongshan Second Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400014, China.
authors: Quanbo
authors: Q
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Zhongshan Second Road of Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400014, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Zhongshan Second Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400014, China.
authors: Xue
authors: X
authors: Zhan
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Zhongshan Second Road of Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400014, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Zhongshan Second Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400014, China.
authors: Zhongyue
authors: Z
authors: Li
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Zhongshan Second Road of Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400014, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Zhongshan Second Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400014, China.
authors: Huajian
authors: H
authors: Hu
authors: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Zhongshan Second Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400014, China; Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Zhongshan Second Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400014, China.
authors: Tingyu
authors: T
authors: Li
authors: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Zhongshan Second Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400014, China; Children's Nutrition Research Center, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Zhongshan Second Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400014, China.
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Chen
keywords: Zn; anaemia; intervention; treatment efficacy of persistent diarrhea; vitamin A