Nutritional Advice El MondoObjectives:
Anemia is a worldwide public health problem that can be related to many causes, including vitamin A deficiency. Therefore, this review article (meta-analysis) has been conducted.
The aim of this review article is to examine the effect of vitamin A supplementation (VAS) on iron status biomarkers and anemia in humans.
Study design:
This review article included 21 clinical trials and 2 cohort studies, with children, teenagers, pregnant or lactating women.
Results and conclusions:
The investigators found clinical trials showed that vitamin A supplementation significantly reduced risk of anemia by 26% and raised hemoglobin levels, compared to non-treated group, independent of the life stage.
The investigators found clinical trials showed that vitamin A supplementation did not alter the prevalence of iron deficiency among children and teenagers [RR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.60 to 1.12, p = 0.204].
However, a significant increase in serum ferritin levels was observed in trials conducted among pregnant and lactating women [WMD = 6.61 μg/L, 95% CI = 6.00 to 7.21 μg/L, p 0.001]. Significant because the found p value of 0.001 was lower than p value of 0.05.
The investigators concluded that vitamin A supplementation alone reduces risk of anemia, by improving hemoglobin and ferritin levels in individuals with low serum retinol levels.
Original title:
Effect of vitamin A supplementation on iron status in humans: a systematic review and meta-analysis by da Cunha MS, Campos Hankins NA and Arruda SF.
Link:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29336593
Additional information of El Mondo:
Find more information/studies on food fortification/malnutrition, vitamin A and study design/meta-analysis/significant right here.