Interaction between vitamin A supplementation and chronic malnutrition on child development

This study aims to analyze if vitamin A supplementation is associated with improved development and how this effect could be mediated by nutritional status. Population-based study surveyed a representative sample of 8000 households, 1232 children 0-35 months, in the state of Cear á, Brazil. The variables analysed included child developmental status, nutritional determinants and confounding factors. The main effects and interactions were evaluated using Cox regressive models. Vitamin A supplementation showed protective effect to delay in cognitive and motor development modif ied by interaction with nutritional status. While well-nourished supplemented children presented a 67% lower risk of cognitive delay (adjusted PRR = 0·33 [0·21 – 0 ·53]), stunted children had no benefit from supplementation (adjusted PRR = 0·97 [0·39 – 2 ·40]). Vitamin A supplementation has a protective effect on child development, but not in stunted children. This suggests that supplementation is effective in promoting child development, especially if associated to a joint effort to improve the nutritional status of children, given the importance of this mediator.Resumo Duzentos milh ões de crianças em idade pré-escolar não estão se desenvolvendo adequadamente. Os atrasos no desenvolvimento estão associados a múltiplos fatores. Este estudo pretende analisar se a suplementação de vitamina A está associada a melhor desenvolvimento e a forma como esse efeito pode ser medi ado pelo estado...
Source: Ciencia e Saude Coletiva - Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research