A double-blind, placebo, controlled trial was conducted in Banyudono subdistrict, Boyolali regency, Central Java province, Indonesia. The aim of the study was to determine whether adding low-dosage vitamin A and riboflavin can enhance the effect of iron-folate supplementation in anaemic pregnant women. From July to November 2000, 202 pregnant women were screened for anaemia (haemoglobin < 11.0 g/dL). One hundred and three pregnant women (51%) were found to be anaemic and were then allocated alternately into four groups. Over a period of 60 days, group IF (n = 29) received iron-folate tablets (200 mg FeSO4 and 250 microg folic acid) + 5 mg glucose: group IFR (n = 22) received iron-folate tablets + 5 mg riboflavin; group IFA (n = 29) received iron-folate tablets + 2.75 mg retinyl palmitate (equal to 5000 IU vitamin A); and group IFRA (n = 23) received iron-folate tablets + 5 mg riboflavin + 2.75 mg retinyl palmitate. At the end of the study 19 pregnant women (18.4%) were excluded from the analysis because of various reasons. Statistical analysis was based on 84 women (81.5%): group IF, n = 25; group IFR, n = 22; group IFA, n = 18; and group IFRA, n = 19. Haemoglobin measurements were carried out using the Technicon H1* (cyanmethaemoglobin method). All groups showed a significant increase in haemoglobin concentration (P < 0.05), except group IFA (P > 0.05), with the highest increment being in group FR. Multiple comparisons only showed significant differences between group IFR and group IFA (P < 0.05). It can be concluded that iron-folate supplementation can increase haemoglobin concentrations in anaemic pregnant women. Adding riboflavin tends to enhance the effect of iron-folate supplementation, but this is not the case with adding vitamin A.

Covid-19 patients with comorbidities, such as hypertension, diabetes, and respiratory diseases, have a higher risk for severe disease and mortality compared to patients without comorbidities. Some data shows that the administration of high dose vitamin C (1–2 g/day) can reduce the amount of the inflammatory mediators and shorten the length of hospital stay. This study aimed to determine the relationship between vitamin C administration and of length of hospital stay for Covid-19 patients with comorbidities. This study was a retrospective observational study on consecutively sampled medical record data of UNS Hospital patients from July 2020 to January 2021. A total of 78 patient medical records were included of this study. The inclusion criteria were all medical records of patients who suffered from Covid-19 with comorbidities admitted to the hospital while the exclusion criteria were medical records of patients who did not get oral or intravenous vitamin C. The chi-square bivariate test was used to determine the relationship between the administration of vitamin C and the length of hospital stay for Covid-19 patients with comorbidities. Of the 78 subjects only 52 subjects were included in the statistical analysis. Medical records were divided into two groups: group 1, that consisted of medical records of patient who received more than 1,000 mg Vitamin C, and group 2, who received less than 1,000 mg Vitamin C. Results demonstrated that the administration of high dose vitamin C of more than 1,000 mg was not associated with the length of hospital stay (p=0.677). Thus, high dose of vitamin C is not associated with the length of hospital stay for Covid-19 patients with comorbidities, such as hypertension, diabetes, and respiratory disease.