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 .
Effectiveness of weekly vitamin A (10 000 IU) and iron (60 mg) supplementation for adolescent boys and girls through schools in rural and urban East Java, Indonesia
Objective : High prevalences of vitamin A deficiency and anaemia among adolescents warrant interventions . This study evaluated the effectiveness of school-based supplementation to reduce anaemia and improve vitamin A status . Design : School-based , grade -r and omized , intervention . Subjects and setting : In all , 1757 girls and 1859 boys , aged 12–15 y , in 24 Junior High Schools . Interventions : Weekly supplementation for 14 weeks with 60 mg iron and 250 μg folate ( Fe group ; n=978 ) , 10 000 IU vitamin A ( VA group ; n=970 ) or both ( VAFe group ; n=1042 ) to subjects in 15 schools , compared to subjects in nine other schools not receiving supplements  ( control ; n=626 ) . Results : The baseline anaemia prevalence ( Hb < 120 g/l ) in girls was 20 % ( prepubertal ) and 26 % ( pubertal ) , and in boys 24 % ( pre-pubertal ) and 11 % ( pubertal ) . Serum retinol concentrations were low ( < 1.05 μmol/l ) in 41 % of boys and 45 % of girls . The interventions did not increase haemoglobin concentrations . Serum retinol concentration of boys , but not girls , in the VA group increased ( 0.33 vs 0.07 μmol/l in controls ; P<0.01 ) . The risk factors for low serum retinol concentration were lower baseline serum retinol concentration ( OR 0.02–0.03 ) with , for girls , nightblindness at baseline ( OR 5.88 ) , and for boys , not receiving vitamin A ( OR control : 1.00 ; VA : 0.37 ; Fe : 0.77 ; VAFe : 0.34 ) and maternal illiteracy ( OR mother never attended school 1.00 , mother received any formal education 0.17–0.33 ) . Conclusions : Supplementation with vitamin A increased serum retinol concentration of boys . Iron supplementation did not change Hb . This appeared to be due to poor compliance , and partly related to side effects . Sponsorship : This study was funded by USAID through the OMNI Project
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 .