Different Doses of Vitamin A Supplementation and Male and Female Morbidity and Mortality

Summary

We previously compared the effect on mortality of the half dose and the full dose currently recommended by WHO. Unexpectedly, the low dose was clearly better for girls, but not for boys. The girls' response might have depended on the last vaccine received before the OPV and VAS campaign. We believe that these findings call for confirmation. In connection with a new campaign, we will examine whether half the dose or the full dose has a more beneficial effect on mortality and morbidity in girls, and furthermore address the potential effect modification by the last vaccine received before the supplementation.

Timeline

Start

2004-11

Primary completion

2013-11

Completion

—

Outcome

Missed primary endpoint

paper There was no significant difference in mortality at 6 months and 12 months of follow up between the low dose VAS group and the recommended dose VAS group. PMID 21884606 ↗

Publications

• Yakymenko D, Benn CS, Martins C, Diness BR, Fisker AB, Rodrigues A, Aaby P. The impact of different doses of vitamin A supplementation on male and female mortality. A randomised trial from Guinea-Bissau. BMC Pediatr. 2011 Sep 1;11:77. doi: 10.1186/1471-2431-11-77.

Drugs

Indications