Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health

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Volume 8, Issue 1-2, December 2018, Pages 20 - 28

Vitamin A Supplementation for Prevention and Treatment of Malaria during Pregnancy and Childhood: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Authors
Mohammad Yawar Yakoob1, *, Murad Qadir1, †, Omm-e-Hany2
1Department of Community Health Sciences, Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan
2Institute of Environmental Studies, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
†

Present address: Department of Community Health Sciences, United Medical and Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan

*Corresponding author. Present address: Indus Hospital Research Center, Indus Health Network, Karachi, Pakistan. Emails: myyakoob@mail.harvard.edu; yawar.yaqoob@tih.org.pk
Corresponding Author
Mohammad Yawar Yakoob
Received 13 December 2017, Accepted 25 August 2018, Available Online 31 December 2018.
DOI
10.2991/j.jegh.2018.04.104How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Childhood; preventive; pregnancy; randomized controlled trials; supplementation; treatment; vitamin A
Abstract

Animal studies have shown that vitamin A plays a role in immunity and protection against infectious diseases. Its role reducing incidence of diarrhea and measles, and childhood mortality is known, but its role in relation to malaria is unclear. Thus, a comprehensive, systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed and Cochrane Library to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the role of vitamin A during pregnancy and childhood for prevention and treatment of malaria. A total of 107 titles/abstracts were identified, of which 15 articles (11 studies) were selected for final inclusion. Based on the meta-analysis, vitamin A supplementation during pregnancy had no benefit for placental infection (relative risk = 1.09; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.95–1.25; fixed effects, I2 = 0; 2 RCTs). Similarly, there was no effect on peripheral parasitemia or episodes of new clinical malaria. Preventive vitamin A supplementation in children younger than 5 years did not reduce the incidence of peripheral parasitemia or malaria mortality (latter rate ratio = 0.49; 95% CI, 0.07–3.26; random effects, I2 = 72%, 2 RCTs). Vitamin A as an adjunct treatment for cerebral or severe malaria in children did not have benefit on survival, fever resolution time, parasite clearance time, or incidence of neurological or other complications. Vitamin A has no benefit for malarial infection either as prevention or treatment in pregnancy or childhood based on RCT evidence.

Copyright
© 2018 Atlantis Press International B.V.
Open Access
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licences/by-nc/4.0/).

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<Previous Article In Issue
Next Article In Issue>
Journal
Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
Volume-Issue
8 - 1-2
Pages
20 - 28
Publication Date
2018/12/31
ISSN (Online)
2210-6014
ISSN (Print)
2210-6006
DOI
10.2991/j.jegh.2018.04.104How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2018 Atlantis Press International B.V.
Open Access
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licences/by-nc/4.0/).

Cite this article

risenwbib
TY  - JOUR
AU  - Mohammad Yawar Yakoob
AU  - Murad Qadir
AU  - Omm-e-Hany
PY  - 2018
DA  - 2018/12/31
TI  - Vitamin A Supplementation for Prevention and Treatment of Malaria during Pregnancy and Childhood: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
JO  - Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
SP  - 20
EP  - 28
VL  - 8
IS  - 1-2
SN  - 2210-6014
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/j.jegh.2018.04.104
DO  - 10.2991/j.jegh.2018.04.104
ID  - Yakoob2018
ER  -