Does vitamin A supplementation protect schoolchildren from acquiring soil-transmitted helminthiasis? A randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite the intensive global efforts to control intestinal parasitic infections, the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections is still very high in many developing countries particularly among children in rural areas.

Methods

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 250 Aboriginal schoolchildren in Malaysia to investigate the effects of a single high-dose of vitamin A supplementation (200,000 IU) on STH reinfection. The effect of the supplement was assessed at 3 and 6 months after receiving interventions; after a complete 3-day deworming course of 400 mg/daily of albendazole tablets.

Results

Almost all children (98.6%) were infected with at least one STH species. The overall prevalence of ascariasis, trichuriasis

SUBMITTER: Al-Mekhlafi HM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4141119 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature