Efficacy of vitamin A in reducing preschool child mortality in Nepal

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

7-13-1991

Journal

The Lancet

Volume

338

Issue

8759

DOI

10.1016/0140-6736(91)90070-6

Abstract

Community trials of the efficacy of vitamin A supplementation in reducing preschool childhood mortality have produced conflicting results. To resolve the question, a randomised, double-masked, placebo-controlled community trial of 28 630 children aged 6-72 months was carried out in rural Nepal, an area representative of the Gangetic flood plain of South Asia. Randomisation was carried out by administrative ward; the vitamin-A-supplemented children received 60 000 retinol equivalents every 4 months and placebo-treated children received identical capsules containing 300 retinol equivalents. After 12 months, the relative risk of death in the vitamin-A-supplemented compared with the control group was 0·70 (95% confidence interval 0·56-0·88), equivalent to a 30% reduction in mortality. The trial, which had been planned to last 2 years, was discontinued. The reduction in mortality was present in both sexes (relative risk for boys 0·77; for girls 0·65), at all ages (range of relative risks 0·83-0·50), and throughout the year (0·76-0·67). The reduction in mortality risk was not affected by acute nutritional status, as measured by arm circumference. Thus, periodic vitamin A delivery in the community can greatly reduce child mortality in developing countries. © 1991.

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