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The effect of live measles vaccines on serum vitamin A levels in healthy children
Author(s) -
YalÇIn S SongÜL,
YurdakÖK Kadriye,
ÖZalp İMran,
CoŞKun Turgay
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-200x.1998.tb01945.x
Subject(s) - medicine , measles , virology , measles vaccine , immunology , vaccination
Objective:Serum retinol levels have been shown to be depressed during measles infection. This study aims to demonstrate whether there is any decrease in serum vitamin A level following immunization with live viral vaccine and its relation with vaccine seroconversion in children with measles. Since many children receive measles vaccine alone or in combination with measles‐mumps‐rubella vaccine, we studied serum vitamin A levels and antibody levels in healthy, well‐nourished children before and after immunization with monovalent and combined live attenuated measles vaccine.Methods:The first group included 21 healthy children between the ages of9–11 months who received live measles (Schwarz) vaccine. There were also 21 healthy children (range14–20 months of age) who received measles‐mumps‐rubella Trimovax® (Pasteur Merieux) vaccine. All children were tested for serum vitamin A levels before vaccination, on days9–14 and30–42 following both vaccinations. Measles specific antibody levels were also measured on admission and30–42 days following vaccinations.Results:In both vaccination groups, mean serum vitamin A levels reduced significantly on days9–14, but increased slightly on days30–42 in the measles‐mumps‐rubella vaccinated group (P < 0.05). The baseline and follow‐up levels of mean serum vitamin A did not differ between seroconverted and nonseroconverted cases within the measles vaccinated group.Conclusion:Serum vitamin A levels are reduced following vaccination with monovalent and combined live attenuated measles vaccines.