The effect of high-dose vitamin A supplementation given with bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine at birth on infant rotavirus infection and diarrhea: a randomized prospective study from Guinea-Bissau.

Background: Prophylactic vitamin A supplementation (VAS) reduces mortality and may reduce morbidity associated with diarrhea in children >6 months of age. Rotavirus is the most common cause of acute dehydrating diarrhea among children worldwide.

Methods: In a randomized placebo-controlled study of 50,000 IU of vitamin A versus placebo given with bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine at birth, 287 infants were followed up with weekly interviews and stool sample obtainment to test the hypothesis that VAS reduced the risk of rotavirus infection.