الفهرس 
Vitamin A.Only 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Vitamin A deficiency is a major cause of childhood morbidity and
mortality in many developing countries. Vitamin A is a potent immune
enhancer and has long been known as the ”anti-infective” vitamin. Regular
vitmain A supplementation has been recommended for children aged six
months and older to improve survival. WHO and UNICEF currently
recommended that oral vitamin A, 100 000 IU, be given at the time of
measles immunisation at six and nine months of age, depending on vaccine
schedules in devleoping countries. However the safety and value of giving
vitamin A with live measles virus vaccine are unknown.
So, in this study we aimed to study the effct of oral vitamin A
supplementation at time of measles vaccination on seroconversion to that
vaccme,
The study populations consisted of 100 healthy infants aged 9-12
months and were devided into two groups : group I (50 infants) had
vitamin A supplementation, 100.000 IU orally, at the same time as measles
immunization, and group II (50 infants)had not vitamin A supplementation.
All infants were subjected to blood sampling before and one month after
measles vaccination for determination of serum retinol and measles
antibody levels.
(92)
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
We found that mean level of serum retinol was 0.856 (± 0.121)
J.Ul1011Lin all studied infants before measles vaccination. After measles
vaccination and vitamin A supplementation to group 1the mean level of
serum retinol became 0.946 (± 0.169) umol/L, while in group II which had
no vitamin A supplementation, it became 0.836 (± 0.098) umol/L.
76% of studied infants seroconverted to measles: 68% in group 1
(with vitamin A supplementation) and 84% in group II (without vitamin A
supplementation). The mean serum level of measles antibodies of group I
was 0.496(±0.123)gIL before measles vaccination and became 1.328
(±O.253) gIL after measles vaccination, while in group II it was 0.478
(±O.076) gIL before measles vaccination and 2.204 (± 0.899)gIL after it.
Group I (infants with vitamin A supplementation) showed
significant lower level of measles antiboides than group II (infants without
vitamin A supplementation) after measles vaccination (p<O.001 ).
A significant negative correlation was detected between serum
retinol level and serconoversion to measles. Female sex was’ also
associated with a lower likelihood of seroconversion but insignificant. Age
had a positive correlation with seroconversion to measles vaccine but also
insignificant.
Conclusions :-
The present study suggests that simultaneous high dose of vitamin A
supplementation is associated with significant lower level of measles
antibodies than is cases without vitamin A supplementation.
Seroconversion to measles vacciantion showed a significant
negative correlation to serum retinol level.
So the benefits of improving vitamin A status need to be weighed
against the potential risks of reduced seroconversion to measles vaccine.
Recommendations :
1- Vitamin A status in our Egyptian infants should be evaluated in wide
spectrum studies.
2- Vitamin A supplementation is better to be postponed after measles
vacciantion to get more antibodies level against the disease.
3- Further studies to measure the risks and benefits of delivering vitamin A
supplements with other live viral vaccines for example its effect on
immune responses to oral polio-virus vaccine.