Aetiology of severe vitamin A deficiency in children.

Background: Severe forms of vitamin A deficiency or keratomalacia are common in young children. Keratomalacia is thought to be associated with malnutrition due to poor weaning practices and manifests at 3 to 4 years of age. As survival rates for infants have increased, keratomalacia is being seen in children less than 6 months of age.

Diarrhea, respiratory infections, and growth are not affected by a weekly low-dose vitamin A supplement: a masked, controlled field trial in children in southern India.

Incidence, duration, and severity of diarrhea and respiratory symptoms were monitored weekly for 1 y in 15,419 children 6-60 mo of age in a randomized, placebo-controlled, masked clinical trial conducted in southern India. Half the children received weekly doses of 8.7 mumol (2500 microgram) vitamin A and 46 mumol (20 mg) vitamin E (treated) and the other half, 46 mumol vitamin E (control).

Reduced mortality among children in southern India receiving a small weekly dose of vitamin A.

Background: Clinical vitamin A deficiency affects millions of children worldwide, and subclinical deficiency is even more common. Supplemental vitamin A has been reported to reduce mortality among these children, but the results have been questioned.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, controlled, masked clinical trial for one year in southern India involving 15,419 preschool-age children who received either 8.