CSU 90/2010: VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION AND NEONATAL MORTALITY

Thursday, 16th of September 2010

CSU 90/2010: VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION AND NEONATAL MORTALITY

This meta-regression is interesting because many countries with problems of neonatal mortality do not, as a matter of policy, give vitamin A before six months of age. Do such policies need a revisit?

Good reading.

Vitamin A supplementation and neonatal mortality in the developing world: a meta-regression of cluster randomized trials

Michael Anthony Rotondi

a & Nooshin Khobzia

Findings

Meta-regression analysis revealed a statistically significant linear relationship between the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in pregnant women and the observed effectiveness of vitamin A supplementation at birth. In regions where at least 22% of pregnant women have vitamin A deficiency giving neonates vitamin A supplements will have a protective effect against infant death.

Conclusion

A meta-regression analysis is observational in nature and may suffer from confounding bias. Nevertheless, our study suggests that vitamin A supplementation can reduce infant mortality in regions where this micronutrient deficiency is common. Thus, neonatal supplementation programs may prove most beneficial in regions where the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency among pregnant women is high.

Text is also online at http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/88/9/09-068080.pdf