Therefore , vitamin A supplementation alone may reduce the risk of anemia , by improving hemoglobin and ferritin levels in individuals with low serum retinol levels
ABSTRACT Anemia is a worldwide public health problem that can be related to many causes , including vitamin A deficiency .
The aim of this study was to assess and estimate the effect of vitamin A supplementation ( VAS ) on iron status biomarkers and anemia in humans .
Impact of vitamin A supplementation on health status and absenteeism of school children in Sri Lanka.
The objective of this study was to determine the impact of Vitamin A supplementation on health status and absenteeism of school children .  A r and omized double blind placebo controlled trial over a period of 13 months was conducted in a rural area of Sri Lanka involving 613 school children attending Grade s 1 - 5 ( aged 5 to 13 years ) . Children were assigned to either 200,000 IU of Vitamin A ( n=297 ) or placebo ( n=316 ) once every 4 months . Socio-demographic data were obtained at baseline , and anthropometry and haemoglobin concentrations were assessed at baseline and post intervention . Serum vitamin A concentrations were assayed by HPLC in a subgroup of children ( n=193 ) before administration of each dose . School absenteeism was recorded . The two groups of children were similar at baseline in all variables . The subgroup of children was comparable to the main study population . The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency ( < 20 microg/dL ) in the subgroup of children was 8.2 % . Changes in anthropometric indices and haemoglobin concentrations were similar in the two groups . The major causes for absenteeism were non-health causes and supplemented children lost a fewer number of school days due to illness than placebo children ( p=0.053 ) . Vitamin A concentrations improved with each dose and the improvement was greater with better compliance . Vitamin A supplementation with 200,000 IU every 4 months over 13 months improved vitamin A status and school attendance but not anthropometric status of these children
Therefore , vitamin A supplementation alone may reduce the risk of anemia , by improving hemoglobin and ferritin levels in individuals with low serum retinol levels
ABSTRACT Anemia is a worldwide public health problem that can be related to many causes , including vitamin A deficiency .
The aim of this study was to assess and estimate the effect of vitamin A supplementation ( VAS ) on iron status biomarkers and anemia in humans .