Malabsorption of water miscible vitamin A in children with giardiasis and ascariasis.

Vitamin A absorption was studied using a water-miscible oral preparation of vitamin A in 19 children ages 1 1/2 to 9 years old with giardiasis and/or ascariasis, both before and after their eradication with appropriate therapy, and in three children without parasites. Marked impairment of vitamin A absorption was noted when administered in a water miscible form in children with 1) combined infection with Giardia lamblia and Ascaris lumbricoides, 2) giardiasis alone, and 3) in a proportion of children with ascariasis alone. In children with both giardiasis and ascarasis eradication of the infections promptly lead to a significant improvement in vitamin A absorption and restored it to normal. Children with giardiasis alone also showed improved vitamin A absorption after therapy. In children with ascariasis alone successful therpay did not lead to a statistically significant improvement.