Effects Of Vitamin A And Iron Supplementation On The Treatment Of Malaria In Cameroonian Preschool Children

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of vitamin A and iron on the treatment of malaria, when they are given as supplements to infected preschool children. In a placebo-controlled supplementation trial, 132 children aged between 6 and 60 months were recruited and divided into 4 groups: the first group received 68mg (6-30 months) or 102mg (30-60 months) iron daily and the second, 30mg (6-12 months) or 60mg (12-60 months) of vitamin A in single dose at the beginning of the treatment. The third group received both vitamin A and iron while the placebo received no supplement. Completed data was obtained on parasitaemia, clinical (weight, vitality) and haematological parameters ( red blood cells, white blood cells and haemoglobin) using WHO (1982) methods, and micronutrients status (serum vitamin A and iron) respectively by spectrofluorimetry and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. From this study, it was observed that about 40.15% of the children suffering of malaria were anaemic (haemoglobin level from 9.02 ± 1.60 to 10.72 ± 1.21 g/dl and red blood cells level less than 3500000/ mm3 among 40.15% of infants recruited). They also had moderate to severe vitamin A deficiency (serum vitamin A between 0.53 ± 0.14 and 0.66 ± 0.24μmol/l). Compared with placebo group, infants receiving supplements improved considerably, for clinical and sub clinical parameters (weight gain from 0.49 ± 1.48 to 0.64 ± 1.97Kg, as against – 0.76 ± 2.17Kg in placebo group), iron status (haemoglobin level varied from 0.63 ± 1.33 to 0.94 ± 1.2.10 g/dl as against – 0.68 ± 0.98 g/l). A significant improvement of vitamin A status was observed within groups receiving vitamin A supplementation (serum level 0.08 ± 0.20 to 0.11 ± 0.17μmol/l), while there was a notable decrease in the non supplemented group (– 0.04 ± 0.05μmol/l within the group that received iron, and – 0.07 ± 0.13μmol/l in the placebo group). The improvement was most important in the group receiving either vitamin A or iron supplements than those who received iron or vitamin A alone. This study showed that vitamin A and iron could remarkably improve the treatment of malaria when they are given as supplements to infected children.