Impact of massive doses of vitamin A on incidence of nutritional blindness.

Abstract

In a longitudinal study designed to assess the impact of a massive-dose vitamin A programme on the incidence of keratomalacia, 50 000 preschool children in 450 slum areas in Hyderabad city (India) were given 200 000 IU of vitamin A once every 6 months. During the study period, the incidence of keratomalacia in areas covered by the programme decreased by about 80%, while in control areas the reduction was of the order of 20%. To test whether large doses of vitamin A supplements prevented keratomalacia, a case-control analysis was done, with patients with severe protein-energy malnutrition being used as controls. The high odds ratio clearly indicated that keratomalacia was more likely to occur in children not receiving supplements.

• Authors: K Vijayaraghavan, K V Sarma, N P Rao, V Reddy
• Journal: Lancet (London, England) (Lancet) Vol. 2 Issue 8395 Pg. 149-51 (Jul 21 1984) ISSN: 0140-6736 [Print] England
• PMID: 6146045 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Vitamin A

Topics

• Blindness (etiology, prevention & control)
• Child, Preschool
• Humans
• India
• Infant
• Longitudinal Studies
• Poverty Areas
• Vitamin A (administration & dosage)
• Vitamin A Deficiency (complications, epidemiology, prevention & control)
• Xerophthalmia (epidemiology, etiology, prevention & control)