{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Maternal postpartum vitamin A supplementation for the prevention of mortality and morbidity in infancy: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
{Author}: Gogia S;Sachdev HS;
{Journal}: Int J Epidemiol
{Volume}: 39
{Issue}: 5
{Year}: Oct 2010
{Factor}: 9.685
{DOI}: 10.1093/ije/dyq080
{Abstract}: <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Maternal postpartum vitamin A supplementation (VAS) provides an opportunity to improve vitamin A nutriture of breast fed infants in developing countries and can possibly prevent infant mortality and morbidity attributable to vitamin A deficiency.<BR><B>OBJECTIVE: </B>To evaluate the effect of maternal postpartum VAS on infant mortality, morbidity and adverse effects.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Electronic databases and abstracts and proceedings of micronutrient conferences.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Randomized or quasi-randomized, placebo-controlled trials evaluating the effect of postpartum, maternal synthetic VAS on mortality or morbidity within infancy (<1 year), or adverse effects.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>The seven included trials were from developing countries. There was no evidence of a reduced risk of mortality during infancy [relative risk (RR) 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.92-1.20, P = 0.438; I² = 0%, P = 0.940]. No variable emerged as a significant predictor of mortality but data for high-risk groups (high maternal night blindness prevalence and low birth weights) was restricted. Neonatal mortality data was available from a single study, (RR 1.09, 95% CI 0.88-1.35; P = 0.422). In two trials, there was no evidence of a reduced risk of cause-specific mortality. In one trial, there was no evidence of a decrease in either diarrhoea or acute respiratory infection. No adverse effects were reported in the single relevant trial.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>There is no evidence of a mortality or morbidity benefit to the infant following postpartum maternal VAS. Only prevention of infant morbidity or mortality would be sufficient justification for initiating this intervention in public health programmes.