Effect of vitamin A on severity of acute diarrhea in children

Background Vitamin A deficiency may increase the risk or be a cause of diarrhea. Many studies have been conducted on the efficacy of vitamin A in the management of acute diarrhea, but the outcomes remain inconclusive.Objective To determine the effectiveness of vitamin A in reducing the severity of acute diarrhea in children.Methods We performed a single-blind-randomized controlled trial in the Secanggang District, Langkat Regency, North of Sumatera, from August 2009 to January 2010 in children aged 6 months to 5 years, who had diarrheas. Subjects were divided into two groups. Group 1 received a single dose of vitamin A (100,000 IU for subjects aged 6 to 11 month old or with body weights ≤ 10 kg, or 200,000 IU for subjects aged ≥ 12 month old or with body weights > 10 kg). Group 2 received a single dose of placebo. The establishment of severity was based on changes in diarrheal frequency, stool consistency, volume and duration of diarrhea after treatment. We performed independent T-test and Chi square tests for statistical analyses. The study was an intention-to-treat analysis.Results We enrolled 120 children who were randomized into two groups of 60 subjects each. Group 1, received vitamin A and group 2 received a placebo. The results showed significant differences between the two groups in stool volume starting on the first day (95%CI 192.30 to 3237.51; P=0.001), as well as diarrheal frequency (P=0.001) and stool consistency (P=0.001) on the second day observation and duration of diarrhea following treatment (95%CI - 40.60 to - 25.79; P=0.001;).Conclusions Vitamin A supplementation is effective in reducing the severity of acute diarrhea in children under five years of age.