Effects of Antioxidant Vitamins ACE and Iron Supplements on Visual Impairment among Primary and Secondary School Children in Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

The eyes like every other organ of the body, are biochemical elements that respond to both helpful or harmful biochemical stimuli leading to either a healthy or pathological state. Anaemia, antioxidant vitamin deficiencies and visual impairment (VI) are public health problems resulting in poor eye health globally. This study aimed to determine the relationship among anaemia, antioxidant vitamins and VI as well as the effect of antioxidant vitamins and iron supplements on visual acuity and anaemia. A pretest-posttest study of 201 respondents randomly selected from primary and secondary schools in three senatorial districts of Delta State, Nigeria.Sociodemographic data and visual acuity tests were done before and after intervention. Preventive intervention with a single dose of vitamin A, daily Vitamin C, weekly vitamin E, and twice weekly ferrous sulphate supplements was administered for five weeks. Spectacle prescriptions were administered to correct refractive errors (RE). Pretest-posttest haemoglobin and serum vitamins ACE were done using JENWAY 6320D Spectrophotometer. Data were analysed using SPSS version 28.0. Statistical significance was defined as P< 0.05. Findings showed that 83 (41.3%) were males and 118 (58.7%) were females with a mean age of 12.30± 3.14 years. Prevalence of anaemia and VI at baseline was 38.3% and 28.9% respectively, and 0% and 5.5% post-intervention respectively.Prevalence of vitamins A and C at baseline was 12.4% and 12.9% respectively, and post-intervention was 6.0% and 15.9% respectively.Prevalence of vitamin E at baseline and post-intervention was 0.0% respectively. RE was the major cause of VI with a prevalence of 23.4%. The association between visual impairment at baseline and impaired vision with spectacle prescription intervention was statistically significant (P=0.001). The correlation of anaemia, vitamins ACE and VI were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Odd ratios of vitamins ACE and iron supplements were predicted to decrease the risk of having anaemia and VI, though not statistically significant (P>0.05). This study showed that antioxidant vitamins and iron supplementation as well as spectacle prescription were effective in reducing the prevalence of anaemia, antioxidant vitamin deficiencies and visual impairment among primary and secondary school children in Delta State.

You Are What You Eat: Preventive Roles of Antioxidant Phytochemicals on Age-related Eye Diseases

“…"Age-related cataract has also been associated with vitamin and carotenoid status" [9]. "Nutrients such as vitamins A, C, and E, lutein, zeaxanthin, and β-carotene were associated with reduced cataract risk in cohort studies" [9,34].…”

“…Different categories of plant source antioxidants (carotenoids and polyphenols) are classified as shown in Table 1. Decreased risk of AMD [34], protect the macula and photoreceptor outer retinal segments from oxidative stress by triggering the antioxidant cascade that disables reactive oxygen species, act as light filters in the eye and absorb blue-light entering the retina, improves visual function in older male patients with AMD [18] kale, spinach, corn, kiwi, or red grapes [43], cantaloupe, pasta, corn, carrots, orange/yellow peppers, fish, salmon, eggs yolks, broccoli, peas and lettuce [19] β-Cryptoxanthin pro-vitamin A They are involved in vision improvement and prevention of night blindness in humans corn, oranges, peaches, papaya, watermelon, and egg yolk [19,44].…”