Mwanri L, Worsley A, Ryan P, Masika J
Department of Public Health, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Adelaide 5005, Australia.
J Nutr. 2000 Nov;130(11):2691-6. doi: 10.1093/jn/130.11.2691.
We conducted a randomized controlled trial of the effects of dietary supplements on anemia, weight and height in 136 anemic school children from a low socioeconomic background in Bagamoyo District schools in Tanzania. The aim of the current study was to investigate the impact of dietary supplements on anemia and anthropometric indices of anemic school children. The supplements were vitamin A alone, iron and vitamin A, iron alone or placebo, administered in a double-blinded design for 3 mo. All supplements were provided with local corn meals. Hemoglobin concentration, body weight and height were measured at baseline and at follow-up after supplementation. Vitamin A supplementation increased the mean hemoglobin concentration by 13.5 g/L compared with 3.5 g/L for placebo [P < 0.0001, 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.19-13.57), the mean body weight by 0.6 kg compared with 0.2 kg for placebo (P < 0.0001, 95% CI 0.19-0.65) and the mean height by 0.4 cm compared with 0.1 cm for placebo (P = 0.0009, 95% CI 0.08-0.42). However, the group of children who received combined vitamin A and iron supplementation had the greatest improvements in all indicators compared with placebo (18.5 g/L, P < 0.0001, 95% CI 14.81-22.23; 0.7 kg, P < 0. 0001, 95% CI 0.43-0.88 and 0.4 cm, P < 0.0001, 95% CI 0.22-0.56 for hemoglobin, weight and height, respectively). It is likely that vitamin A supplementation may have a useful role in combating the problems of vitamin A deficiency and anemia, as well as in improving children's growth, in developing countries.
我们对坦桑尼亚巴加莫约区学校136名来自社会经济背景较低的贫血学童进行了一项关于膳食补充剂对贫血、体重和身高影响的随机对照试验。本研究的目的是调查膳食补充剂对贫血学童贫血及人体测量指标的影响。补充剂分别为单独的维生素A、铁和维生素A、单独的铁或安慰剂，采用双盲设计，为期3个月。所有补充剂均与当地玉米粉一起提供。在基线期和补充后随访时测量血红蛋白浓度、体重和身高。与安慰剂相比，补充维生素A使平均血红蛋白浓度增加了13.5 g/L，而安慰剂组增加了3.5 g/L（P<0.0001，95%置信区间[CI]6.19 - 13.57）；平均体重增加了0.6 kg，而安慰剂组增加了0.2 kg（P<0.0001，95%CI 0.19 - 0.65）；平均身高增加了0.4 cm，而安慰剂组增加了0.1 cm（P = 0.0009，95%CI 0.08 - 0.42）。然而，与安慰剂相比，接受维生素A和铁联合补充剂的儿童组在所有指标上的改善最大（血红蛋白为18.5 g/L，P<0.0001，95%CI 14.81 - 22.23；体重为0.7 kg，P<0.0001，95%CI 0.43 - 0.88；身高为0.4 cm，P<0.0001，95%CI 0.22 - 0.56）。在发展中国家，补充维生素A可能在对抗维生素A缺乏和贫血问题以及改善儿童生长方面发挥有益作用。
