Effect of vitamin A supplementation with BCG vaccine at birth on vitamin A status at 6 wk and 4 mo of age

Ane B Fisker, Ida M Lisse, Peter Aaby, Juergen G Erhardt, Amabelia Rodrigues, Bo M Bibby, Christine S Benn

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The effect of vitamin A supplementation (VAS) at birth on subsequent vitamin A status has not been studied.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to study the effect of 50,000 IU vitamin A administered with BCG vaccine at birth on vitamin A status in both sexes.

DESIGN: Within a randomized placebo-controlled trial of VAS, we obtained blood from 614 children at 6 wk of age and from 369 mother-infant pairs at 4 mo of age. We assessed vitamin A status on the basis of serum retinol-binding protein (RBP) and measured serum C-reactive protein to monitor for concurrent infections.

RESULTS: RBP concentrations indicated vitamin A deficiency in 32% of the children at age 6 wk and in 16% at age 4 mo. VAS was not associated with higher RBP concentrations overall or in either sex. However, the effect of VAS varied with maternal education (P for interaction = 0.004): At age 6 wk, VAS was associated with higher (9%; 95% CI: 2, 17%) RBP concentrations in children of noneducated mothers but not in children of educated mothers. Overall, RBP concentrations increased between 6 wk and 4 mo of age. The increase correlated inversely with the number of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccines received in the interval (P = 0.009), particularly in girls (P for interaction = 0.01) and in vitamin A recipients (P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, VAS at birth had no effect on vitamin A status. However VAS may temporarily improve vitamin A status in the subgroup of children of noneducated mothers. In vitamin A recipients, subsequent DTP vaccines affected vitamin A status negatively. The main trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00168597.

Original languageEnglish
JournalThe American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Volume86
Issue number4
Pages (from-to)1032–1039
ISSN0002-9165
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2007
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Aging
  • BCG Vaccine
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine
  • Educational Status
  • Female
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Mothers
  • Nutritional Status
  • Postpartum Period
  • Retinol-Binding Proteins
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin A Deficiency
  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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