Association of Vitamin A Status With Under-Five Mortality in India.

OBJECTIVE

To re-estimate the survival benefit from Vitamin A supplementation (VAS) in India using meta-analysis and to correlate mortality and vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in children aged 6 month to 5 year.

METHODS

Pooled risk ratio (fixed effects model) for mortality reduction with VAS was calculated from available Indian studies. Computed mortality rates in 6 months to 5 years children in Indian states were regressed on VAD prevalence estimates of the states.

RESULTS

There was no reduction in risk of all-cause mortality with VAS (RR=0.96; 95% CI: 0.89, 1.03). When regressing mortality on VAD in high or low VAD prevalence states, the regression coefficients were discordant.

CONCLUSION

No survival benefit was observed for VAS in India from the available literature. The targeting of VAS programs should be given serious consideration.