Efficacy of early neonatal supplementation with vitamin A to reduce mortality in infancy in Haryana, India (Neovita): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Evaluation of the uptake and impact of neonatal vitamin A supplementation delivered through the Lady Health Worker programme on neonatal and infant morbidity and mortality in rural Pakistan: an effectiveness trial

“…Our findings of a lack of significant benefit of neonatal VAS on survival at 6 months of age is at variance with other studies in south Asia 6 – 8. However, other studies in Africa have failed to show any benefits of neonatal VAS on survival 10 23 26.…”

“…Our study did not show any benefit on infant survival. Two of three large trials evaluating the impact of vitamin A on infant mortality have recently been published, demonstrating no benefits,10 26 although the study in India was associated with a 10% reduction in mortality at 6 months of age,8 once again lending support to the contention that the intervention may be relevant in populations with varying rates of maternal nutritional risks and vitamin A deficiency. Further recommendations on neonatal VAS must therefore await additional contextual analysis and targeting to populations at greatest risk, as well as comparison with alternative strategies 29 32…”

“…Given widespread maternal vitamin A deficiency in some regions and the fact that a large proportion of child deaths occur among young infants, it is plausible that alleviation of vitamin A deficiency among young infants could be beneficial. Although some studies have reported a beneficial impact on infant mortality in south Asia and among populations with a relatively high prevalence of maternal vitamin A deficiency,6 7 other recent studies have shown modest benefits 8. These findings cannot be generalised to the global context as other randomised controlled trials in similar settings have not shown any benefits 9–12…”

Nutrition and maternal, neonatal, and child health

“…These three studies were recently published and continue to show a difference in effects between South Asia and Africa. In India the newborn vitamin A supplementation showed a 6-month survival benefit (RR ¼ 0.90, 95% CI: 0.81À1.00), 61 whereas neither study in Africa showed an impact. 62,63 In the meta-analysis that was undertaken, a clear 6-month survival benefit in Asia was observed (RR ¼ 0.87, 95% CI: 0.78À0.96), whereas the pooled effect size in Africa was 1.10 (95% CI: 1.00À1.21).…”

Transgenic Pro-Vitamin A Biofortified Crops for Improving Vitamin A Deficiency and Their Challenges

“…In Tanzania, RRR was 1.10 with 95% CI 0.95-1.26 and p-value 0.19 [16]. In India, RRR was 0.90 with 95% CI 0.81-1.0 and p-value 0.06 [32].…”