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A Randomized Trial of Multivitamin Supplementation in Children with Tuberculosis in Tanzania
Author(s) -
Mehta Saurabh,
Mugusi Ferdinand M,
Bosch Ronald J,
Aboud Said,
Chatterjee Anirban,
Finkelstein Julia L,
Fataki Maulidi,
Kisenge Rodrick,
Fawzi Wafaie W
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.538.2
Subject(s) - multivitamin , medicine , placebo , randomized controlled trial , anthropometry , pediatrics , vitamin , alternative medicine , pathology
Background Multivitamin supplementation may enhance the health of children with tuberculosis (TB); however, its efficacy as an intervention has not been examined. Methods 255 children with TB were randomized to receive either a daily multivitamin supplement or placebo in the first eight weeks of anti‐TB therapy. They were followed up for the duration of supplementation through clinic and home visits to assess anthropometric indices and laboratory parameters, including hemoglobin and albumin. Results Multivitamin supplementation resulted in a significant improvement in hemoglobin levels at the end of follow‐up; the median increase in children receiving multivitamins was 1.0 g/dL, compared to 0.4 g/dL in children who were given placebo (p<0.01). No significant differences were observed in growth indices, including height and weight gain. Among children who were also co‐infected with HIV (n=87; 34%), daily multivitamins had a smaller but statistically significant increase in albumin levels compared with placebo. Conclusions Multivitamin supplementation for eight weeks improved the hematological profile of children with TB. Larger studies with a longer period of supplementation are needed to confirm these findings and assess the effect of multivitamins on clinical outcomes including treatment success and growth failure. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00145184 Grant Funding Source : NIH 3U01AI045441