Vitamin A supplementation for the prevention of morbidity and mortality in infants six months of age or less

Abstract

There is no convincing evidence that either maternal postpartum or infant vitamin A supplementation results in a reduction in infant mortality or morbidity in low and middle income countries.

Effect of neonatal vitamin A supplementation on mortality in infants in Tanzania (Neovita): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

“…Rates of adverse events at 3 days after supplementation were similar between the vitamin A and placebo groups. Similar findings were reported in a meta-analysis 23 and the accompanying trial from Ghana. 18 By contrast, the companion trial in India 17 showed a small excess risk of transient bulging fontanelle in the vitamin A supplementation group compared with the placebo group.…”

“…23 In this trial we did not show a beneficial effect on survival at age 6 months in infants given vitamin A supplementation within the first 3 days after birth, although the findings do not exclude the possibility of a slight increased risk of death.…”

Effect of neonatal vitamin A supplementation on mortality in infants in Tanzania (Neovita): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

“…Rates of adverse events at 3 days after supplementation were similar between the vitamin A and placebo groups. Similar findings were reported in a meta-analysis 23 and the accompanying trial from Ghana. 18 By contrast, the companion trial in India 17 showed a small excess risk of transient bulging fontanelle in the vitamin A supplementation group compared with the placebo group.…”

“…23 In this trial we did not show a beneficial effect on survival at age 6 months in infants given vitamin A supplementation within the first 3 days after birth, although the findings do not exclude the possibility of a slight increased risk of death.…”

Are child-centric aspects in newborn and child health systematic review and meta-analysis protocols and reports adequately reported?—two systematic reviews

“…These results are similar to those in a report showing it was not possible to determine the ages of trial participants in a large proportion (35%) of SRs [20]. Inadequate reporting of age groups hinders the ability to draw inferences about the different age groups based on the synthesized evidence [41]. Altogether, these results suggest a lack of awareness in the literature on the fundamental dissimilarities between children and adults and the importance of differentiating between age and developmental strata when performing research.…”

Vitamin A Requirements in Pregnancy and Lactation

“…Maternal postpartum supplementation with VA and/or carotenoids has also been reviewed extensively for impact on infant and child mortality. There was no evidence of a reduced risk of infant mortality, neonatal mortality, or morbidities including acute respiratory infections and diarrhea in infants aged ≤6 mo ( 132 , 133 ). Further, there was a lack of evidence supporting VAS to reduce infant mortality or morbidity between 2 and 12 mo, even though maternal breastmilk VA improved with supplementation ( 48 ).…”

Effect of neonatal vitamin A supplementation on mortality in infants in Tanzania (Neovita): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

“…Rates of adverse events at 3 days after supplementation were similar between the vitamin A and placebo groups. Similar findings were reported in a meta-analysis 23 and the accompanying trial from Ghana. 18 By contrast, the companion trial in India 17 showed a small excess risk of transient bulging fontanelle in the vitamin A supplementation group compared with the placebo group.…”

“…23 In this trial we did not show a beneficial effect on survival at age 6 months in infants given vitamin A supplementation within the first 3 days after birth, although the findings do not exclude the possibility of a slight increased risk of death.…”

Are child-centric aspects in newborn and child health systematic review and meta-analysis protocols and reports adequately reported?—two systematic reviews

“…These results are similar to those in a report showing it was not possible to determine the ages of trial participants in a large proportion (35%) of SRs [20]. Inadequate reporting of age groups hinders the ability to draw inferences about the different age groups based on the synthesized evidence [41]. Altogether, these results suggest a lack of awareness in the literature on the fundamental dissimilarities between children and adults and the importance of differentiating between age and developmental strata when performing research.…”

Vitamin A Requirements in Pregnancy and Lactation

“…Maternal postpartum supplementation with VA and/or carotenoids has also been reviewed extensively for impact on infant and child mortality. There was no evidence of a reduced risk of infant mortality, neonatal mortality, or morbidities including acute respiratory infections and diarrhea in infants aged ≤6 mo ( 132 , 133 ). Further, there was a lack of evidence supporting VAS to reduce infant mortality or morbidity between 2 and 12 mo, even though maternal breastmilk VA improved with supplementation ( 48 ).…”

Effect of neonatal vitamin A supplementation on mortality in infants in Tanzania (Neovita): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

“…Rates of adverse events at 3 days after supplementation were similar between the vitamin A and placebo groups. Similar findings were reported in a meta-analysis 23 and the accompanying trial from Ghana. 18 By contrast, the companion trial in India 17 showed a small excess risk of transient bulging fontanelle in the vitamin A supplementation group compared with the placebo group.…”

“…23 In this trial we did not show a beneficial effect on survival at age 6 months in infants given vitamin A supplementation within the first 3 days after birth, although the findings do not exclude the possibility of a slight increased risk of death.…”

Are child-centric aspects in newborn and child health systematic review and meta-analysis protocols and reports adequately reported?—two systematic reviews

“…These results are similar to those in a report showing it was not possible to determine the ages of trial participants in a large proportion (35%) of SRs [20]. Inadequate reporting of age groups hinders the ability to draw inferences about the different age groups based on the synthesized evidence [41]. Altogether, these results suggest a lack of awareness in the literature on the fundamental dissimilarities between children and adults and the importance of differentiating between age and developmental strata when performing research.…”

Vitamin A Requirements in Pregnancy and Lactation

“…Maternal postpartum supplementation with VA and/or carotenoids has also been reviewed extensively for impact on infant and child mortality. There was no evidence of a reduced risk of infant mortality, neonatal mortality, or morbidities including acute respiratory infections and diarrhea in infants aged ≤6 mo ( 132 , 133 ). Further, there was a lack of evidence supporting VAS to reduce infant mortality or morbidity between 2 and 12 mo, even though maternal breastmilk VA improved with supplementation ( 48 ).…”