Increase in serum beta-carotene following dark green leafy vegetable supplementation in Mebendazole-treated school children in Bangladesh

Abstract

Objective: To study the effect of consumption of dark green leafy vegetables (DGLV) and sweet pumpkin on serum b-carotene and retinol concentrations in children treated for Ascaris lumbricoides. Design: Experimental study with a randomised design. Subjects: A total of 110 primary school children aged 8 ± 12 y in northwestern Bangladesh. Interventions: All children were de-wormed and 2 weeks later randomly assigned to one of three groups to receive for 6 days per week, for 6 weeks, one complete meal containing either: (1) 4.4 mg beta-carotene from DGLV (n 37, after 18 dropouts); (2) 1.5 mg beta-carotene from sweet pumpkin (n 36, 18 dropouts); or (3) vegetables containing virtually no beta-carotene (control) (n 37, 18 dropouts). Results: Signi®cant increases (P`0.001) in mean serum b-carotene concentrations were seen in all three study groups, with a statistically higher increase (mmolal) in the DGLV group (0.44; 95% con®dence interval (CI) 0.32, 0.55) compared to the control group (0.20; 95% CI 0.14, 0.26; P 0.002). The increase in serum retinol (mmolal) was statistically signi®cant (P 0.04) only in the DGLV group (mean 0.066; 95% CI 0.002, 0.13), but this increase was not different from the increase in the control group. Conclusion: In children successfully treated for Ascaris lumbricoides, a substantial increase in serum b-carotene was seen after feeding with a moderately high cumulative dose of DGLV for 6 weeks.

Soil-transmitted helminthiasis in four districts in Bangladesh: household cluster surveys of prevalence and intervention status

“…Hookworm infections are of concern to that risk group because of resulting anemia. While our surveys relied on Kato-Katz testing, with its challenges in detecting hookworm in samples more than a few hours old [16], the lack of hookworm infections is consistent with past surveys in Bangladesh among children [17][18][19][20][21] and WRA [22]. Furthermore, a 2018 systematic review on STH combined the results of seven studies (n = 2886) from Bangladesh and estimated prevalence of hookworm to be only 3%.…”

Dietary vitamin A intakes among pregnant women attending antenatal care in health facilities in Dessie Town, North East Ethiopia

“…An interviewer‐administered pretested questionnaire was used for dietary data from known sources ( 7,16–18 ) . The questionnaire was prepared in their local language (Amharic) and then their response was translated into English for the purpose of the present study.…”

Carotenoids in Green Vegetables and Health Aspects

“…The children were randomly assigned to receive a diet with β-carotene from GLVs (4.4 mg), β-carotene from sweet pumpkin (1.4 mg), or a control diet without a β-carotene source. The serum β-carotene levels of the participating children successfully treated for worms increased statistically; however, a greater increase was seen among those children who received supplemental GLVs [48].…”

“…The effects of adding GLVs or pumpkin to the diets of children were studied in an area of Bangladesh known for its high incidence of vitamin A deficiency [48]. In the 6-week study, 110 children aged 8-12 years, were treated to control Ascaris lumbricoides (worms) and then fed one supplemental meal per day for 35 days.…”