The effect of massive doses of vitamin A on the signs of vitamin A deficiency in preschool children

Abstract

Marked seasonal variation in the prevalence of signs of vitamin A deficiency was found in the 2nd year of a continuing study of children age 0 to 4-1/2 years in a village in West Bengal, confirming results of a previous 18-month study. Administration of 200,000 IU of vitamin A every 4 months completely eliminated night blindness and prevented the development of new cases of Bitot's spot in a statistically significant number of children. The effectiveness of massive doses of vitamin A, administered at intervals of 4 months, as a short-term measure to fight the problem, was confirmed in this village. The study yielded additional evidence of the complex etiology of Bitot's spot, since alternate day dose of vitamin A in addition to massive therapy failed to eliminate these spots.

PIP: Marked seasonal variations in the prevalence of signs of vitamin A deficiency were found in the 2nd year of a continuing study of children ages 0-4 1/2 years in a village in West Bengal, confirming the results of a previous 18-month study. Administration of 200,000 IU of vitamin A every 4 months completely eliminated night blindness and prevented the development of new cases of Bitot's spot in a statistically significant number of children. The effectiveness of massive doses of vitamin A, administered at intervals of 4 months, as a short-term measure to fight the problem, was confirmed in this village. The study yielded additional evidence of the complex etiology of Bitot's spot, since alternate day doses of vitamin A in addition to massive therapy failed to eliminate these spots.