scholarly journals Maternal vitamin A and β-carotene supplementation and risk of bacterial vaginosis: a randomized controlled trial in rural Bangladesh

2011 ◽  
Vol 94 (6) ◽  
pp. 1643-1649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parul Christian ◽  
Alain B Labrique ◽  
Hasmot Ali ◽  
Mark J Richman ◽  
Lee Wu ◽  
...  
2020 ◽  
Vol 113 (1) ◽  
pp. 221-231
Author(s):  
Ibukun Afolami ◽  
Martin N Mwangi ◽  
Folake Samuel ◽  
Erick Boy ◽  
Paul Ilona ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Background Vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. Pro-vitamin A biofortified (yellow) cassava has the potential to contribute significantly to improve vitamin A status, especially in populations that are difficult to reach with other strategies. Objectives The study aimed at determining the efficacy of biofortified cassava to improve vitamin A status of Nigerian preschool children. Methods An open-label randomized controlled trial was conducted in southwestern Nigeria. In total, 176 preschool children (aged 3–5 y) were randomized into 2 parallel arms comprising an experimental group (n = 88), fed foods prepared from biofortified (yellow) cassava, and a control group (n = 88), fed foods prepared from white cassava, twice a day, 6 d a week for 93 d. Results A total of 159 children completed the trial (yellow cassava group, n = 80; white cassava group, n = 79). Children consumed 221 and 74 µg/d retinol activity equivalents from intervention foods in the yellow and white cassava groups, respectively. The treatment effect on serum retinol concentrations at the end of the feeding trial was 0.06 µmol/L (95% CI: 0.004, 0.124 µmol/L), after adjustment for baseline retinol concentrations, inflammation, and asymptomatic malaria status. No significant treatment effects were detected for serum β-carotene (adjusted effect: 3.9%; 95% CI: −0.6%, 8.6%) and gut permeability (adjusted effect: 0.002; 95% CI: −0.089, 0.092), but a significant effect was detected for hemoglobin concentrations (adjusted effect: 3.08 g/L; 95% CI: 0.38, 5.78 g/L). Conclusions Daily consumption of β-carotene from biofortified cassava improved serum retinol and hemoglobin concentrations modestly in Nigerian preschool children. This study was registered with clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02627222.


Author(s):  
Jane R. Schwebke ◽  
Belvia A. Carter ◽  
Arthur S. Waldbaum ◽  
Kathy J. Agnew ◽  
Jeremy R.A. Paull ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Alison Karasz ◽  
Shabnam Anne ◽  
Jena Derakhshani Hamadani ◽  
Fahmida Tofail

Depression, a debilitating disorder, is highly prevalent among low-income women in low- and middle-income countries. Standard psychotherapeutic approaches may be helpful, but low treatment uptake, low retention, and transient treatment effects reduce the benefit of therapy. This pilot randomized controlled trial examined the effectiveness and feasibility of an integrated depression treatment/economic strengthening intervention. The study took place in two villages in the Sirajganj district in rural Bangladesh. Forty-eight low-income women with depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score ≥ 10) were recruited and randomized to intervention or control arms. The intervention included a six-month group-based, fortnightly depression management and financial literacy intervention, which was followed by a cash-transfer of $186 (equivalent to the cost of two goats) at 12 months’ follow-up. The cash transfer could be used to purchase a productive asset (e.g., agricultural animals). The control arm received no intervention. Findings showed significant reduction in depression scores in the intervention group. The mean PHQ-9 score decreased from 14.5 to 5.5 (B ± SE, −9.2 ± 0.8 95% CI −10.9, −7.5, p < 0.01) compared to no change in the control group. Most other psycho-social outcomes, including tension, self-esteem, hope, social-support, and participation in household economic decision-making, also improved with intervention. An integrated depression treatment and financial empowerment intervention was found to be highly effective among rural low-income women with depression. Next steps involve formal testing of the model in a larger trial.


2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 935-945 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marinka van der Hoeven ◽  
Mieke Faber ◽  
Jennifer Osei ◽  
Annamarie Kruger ◽  
Cornelius M Smuts

AbstractObjectiveA randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess the effect of African leafy vegetable (ALV) consumption on Fe, Zn and vitamin A status in children.DesignChildren were randomly allocated to receive either a 300 g cooked ALV dish and school meal starch (n86) or the normal school meal (n81) five times per week for three months. ALV in the dish consisted mainly ofAmaranthus cruentus(at least 80 %) and the remainder ofCleome gynandra,Cucurbita maximaorVigna unguiculata. Nutrient content and consumer acceptance of the ALV dish were also determined.SettingNorth West Province, South Africa.SubjectsGrade R to grade 4 children (6–12 years old) of two farm schools.ResultsThe ALV dish contributed 11·6–15·8 mg Fe and 1·4–3·7 mg Zn. At baseline, prevalence of deficiencies in the intervention group was 16·0 %, 16·3 %, 7·0 % and 75·6 %, respectively, for anaemia (Hb<11·5 g/dl), Fe (serum ferritin<15 µg/l), vitamin A (serum retinol<20 μg/dl) and Zn (serum Zn<65 μg/dl); and in the control group 10·5 %, 18·5 %, 2·5 % and 75·3 %, respectively. No significant estimated intervention effect was found.ConclusionsThis randomized controlled trial showed that ALV were unable to improve serum retinol, serum ferritin or Hb if there are only mild deficiencies present. Furthermore, despite the low Zn status in the study population, ALV consumption did not improve serum Zn concentrations either.


Author(s):  
Lukman Azis ◽  
◽  
Siwaporn Pinkaew ◽  
Santad Wichienchot ◽  
◽  
...  

Abstract The optimal vitamin A (VA) status of lactating women is important for mothers and their breastfed infants, especially in protecting against infectious diseases. Vitamin A fortified rice is one of the food-base intervention strategy which has the potential to improve VA status. Vitamin A and gut microbiota are interrelated in their effect on human health and immunity however no specific relationship has been proved in these groups of population. This study aimed to determine the effect of VA fortified rice on the gut microbiota changes of lactating woman-exclusively breastfed infant pairs. A double-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT) of VA fortified rice was conducted in 70 lactating women-infants pairs for 14 weeks. Gut microbiota was measured using the fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and next generation sequencing (NGS) technique. Based on the FISH technique, the numbers of Clostridium spp. /Enterobacter spp. were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in mothers fed VA-fortified rice at the end of the study. In contrast, the abundance of Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. of infants whose mothers fed with VA-fortified rice was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the control group. The NGS technique confirmed that results with the increasing of Lactobacillus, B. longum and B. Choerinum in the infant of intervention group. In conclusion, VA-fortified rice was efficacious in decreasing Clostridium spp. /Enterobacter spp. in lactating women and raising the number of Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. in their breastfed infants. Keywords: Breastfeeding, Gut microbiota, Lactating woman-infant pairs, Randomized controlled trial, Vitamin A


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura H. Kwong ◽  
Debashis Sen ◽  
Sharmin Islam ◽  
Sunny Shahriar ◽  
Jade Benjamin-Chung ◽  
...  

AbstractImproved sanitation has been hypothesized to reduce soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections by reducing the prevalence and abundance of STH eggs/larvae in soil. We evaluated the effect of a randomized sanitation program (providing households with an improved dual-pit latrine, tools for child/animal feces management, and behavioral messaging) on reducing STH eggs in soil from household courtyards. We collected soil samples from 1405 households enrolled in the sanitation intervention (n=419) and control (n=914) groups of a cluster-randomized controlled trial (WASH Benefits) in rural Bangladesh approximately 2 years after the initiation of the interventions. We analyzed samples for Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworm eggs by microscopy. We estimated prevalence ratios (PR) and relative egg count reductions (ECR) to compare the prevalence of any STH eggs and arithmetic and geometric mean egg counts for any STH per gram of soil between the sanitation and control arms.Among intervention households, latrines achieved high and sustained user uptake by adults while child open defecation remained common and most households did not dispose of child feces hygienically. In courtyard soil from control households, the prevalence of any STH eggs was 75.7% and the prevalence of any larvated STH eggs was 67.3%. A. lumbricoides was detected in 63.0% of control samples and T. trichiura in 55.7% of control samples; hookworm was not detected in any sample. The arithmetic mean egg count for any STH was 3.96 eggs/dry gram, while the geometric mean was 1.58 eggs/dry gram. There was no difference between the intervention and control groups in the prevalence of any STH eggs (PR=0.98 (95% CI: 0.91–1.05)) or mean egg counts (ECR=0.08 (95% CI: −0.10, 0.26) for geometric mean and 0.07 (95% CI: −0.22, 0.37) for arithmetic mean). Adjusted models gave similar results.A compound-level sanitation intervention that provided improved latrines and tools for disposal of child and animal feces did not have an impact on environmental reservoirs of STH eggs. In order to effectively reduce the prevalence and abundance of STH eggs in the environment, sustained, widespread use of sanitation strategies to isolate and hygienically dispose of child and animal feces may need to complement traditional strategies for containment of adult human feces.Author summaryImproved sanitation has been hypothesized to reduce soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections by reducing the prevalence and abundance of STH eggs/larvae in soil. We evaluated the effect of a randomized sanitation program (providing households with an improved dual-pit latrine, tools for child/animal feces management, and behavioral messaging) on reducing STH eggs in soil from household courtyards. We collected soil samples from 1405 households enrolled in the control and sanitation groups of a cluster-randomized controlled trial (WASH Benefits) in rural Bangladesh approximately 2 years after the initiation of the interventions. We analyzed samples for Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworm eggs by microscopy. We found no effect of the sanitation intervention on STH eggs in soil. In order to effectively reduce the prevalence and abundance of STH eggs in the environment, sustained, widespread use of sanitation strategies to isolate and hygienically dispose of child and animal feces may need to complement traditional strategies for containment of adult human feces.


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