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The effects of one egg per day on vitamin a status among young Malawian children
A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial
Werner, E. R., Haskell, M. J., Arnold, C. D., Caswell, B. L., Iannotti, L. L., Lutter, C. K., Maleta, K. M., & Stewart, C. P. (2023). The effects of one egg per day on vitamin a status among young Malawian children: A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Current Developments in Nutrition, 7(3), Article 100053. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.100053
BACKGROUND: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is common in populations with limited dietary diversity and access to vitamin A-rich foods.
OBJECTIVES: This analysis aimed to determine the impact of supplementing children's diets with 1 egg/d on the concentration of plasma retinol and RBP and the prevalence of VAD.
METHODS: Children age 6-9 mo living in the Mangochi district of Malawi were individually randomly assigned to receive 1 egg/d for 6 mo (n = 331) or continue their usual diet (n = 329) in the Mazira trial (clinicaltrials.gov; NCT03385252). This secondary analysis measured plasma retinol by HPLC and RBP, CRP, and α-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) by ELISA techniques at enrollment and 6 mo follow-up. Retinol and RBP were adjusted for inflammation, and mean concentrations were compared between groups using linear regression models. In addition, prevalence ratios of VAD (retinol <0.7 μmol/L) were compared between groups using log-binomial or modified Poisson regression models.
RESULTS: After 6 mo of study participation, 489 were assessed for retinol (egg: n = 238; control: n = 251), and 575 (egg: n = 281; control: n = 294) were assessed for RBP. Prevalence of inflammation (CRP >5 mg/L or AGP >1 g/L: 62%) and inflammation-adjusted VAD (7%) at enrollment did not differ between groups. At follow-up, the egg intervention group did not differ from the control in inflammation-adjusted retinol [geometric mean (95% CI); egg: 1.10 μmol/L (1.07, 1.13); control: 1.08 (1.05, 1.12)], RBP [egg: 0.99 μmol/L (0.96, 1.02); control: 0.97 (0.94, 1.00)], or prevalence of VAD [egg: 6%; control: 3%; prevalence ratio: 1.87 (0.83, 4.24)].
CONCLUSIONS: Provision of 1 egg/d did not impact VAD, plasma retinol, or RBP among young children in rural Malawi, where the prevalence of VAD was low. Curr Dev Nutr 2023;x:xx.This trial was registered at [clinicaltrials.gov] as [NCT03385252].
