The Beneficial Effects of Weekly Low-dose Vitamin A Supplementation on Acute Lower Respiratory Infections and Diarrhea in Ecuadorian Children

Abstract

Weekly low-dose (10 000 IU) vitamin A supplementation in a region of subclinical deficiency protected underweight children from ALRI and paradoxically increased ALRI in normal children with body weight over -1 SD. Protection from severe diarrhea was consistent with previous trials. Additional research is warranted to delineate potential beneficial and detrimental interactions between nutritional status and vitamin A supplementation regarding ALRI.

Relationship between community prevalence of obesity and associated behavioral factors and community rates of influenza‐related hospitalizations in the United States

“…, 54 in their study of the effect of obesity on risk of influenza, pointed to the need to examine the effects of diet and exercise on risk of influenza infection. Previous research, mainly focusing on populations in developing nations, linked malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency with respiratory infection 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 . Several studies also demonstrated benefits of chronic moderate exercise in stimulating immune function and increasing serum concentrations of vitamin D (25 (OH) D) 59 , 60 , 61 .…”

Vitamin and Micronutrient Intake and the Risk of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in US Women

“…17, 34 Individuals with vitamin deficiencies are at increased risk for respiratory infections, 10 and vitamin supplementation has been shown to decrease the rate of respiratory infections in certain populations. [11][12][13][14][15][16][18][19][20] Micronutrients can improve cell-mediated immunity and reduce oxidative stress. 35 Vitamin E supplementation in healthy, well-nourished adults increased delayed hypersensitivity responses, response to hepatitis B vaccine, lymphocyte proliferation, and decreased formation of immunosuppressive prostaglandins.…”

“…[11][12][13][14][15][16] Other studies have found no benefit with vitamin supplementation in reducing the rate of respiratory infections. 6, 17-20 Merchant and colleagues demonstrated that vitamin E intake from food sources, but not total intake, was inversely associated with pneumonia risk in US men.…”

Adverse Side Effects of Mega Dose of Vitamin A Administration- A need for Introspection

“…Another study conducted amongst children reported that vitamin A administration was associated with a significant increase in the rate of pneumonia in well-nourished children who received 10,000 IU of vitamin A supplements weekly (20).…”