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Query: UMLS:C0027497 (nausea)
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Vitamin A deficiency is a serious problem throughout the developing world. An estimated 25-50 million children may well suffer the physiologic consequences of vitamin A deficiency; 5 million develop xerophthalmia, of whom 250,000 to 500,000 go blind every year; and untold numbers are at increased risk of diarrhea, respiratory disease, and death. Even mild vitamin A deficiency has been associated with a 14- to 10-fold increase in mortality, and controlled field trials have demonstrated vitamin A supplementation can reduce childhood death rates by 30%-70%. Three general intervention strategies exist for improving vitamin A status of high-risk, rural, economically deprived populations. These include nutrition education leading to increased dietary intake; vitamin A fortification of centrally processed, widely consumed dietary items; and periodic administration of large doses of vitamin A. At present, the latter is far and away the most widely employed intervention activity, because of its immediate impact, and because it can be implemented through the existing (and specialized) health care infrastructure. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin stored in the liver, so that a large dose of 200,000 IU (100,000 IU for children under 1 year of age) every 6 months reduces mortality, stimulates growth, and prevents xerophthalmia and nutritional blindness. Recent data suggest more frequent administration, every 3 to 4 months, may be desirable. Side effects have been minimal, with mild nausea, vomiting, and headaches in less than 1% to 4% of recipients. Care should be taken, however, that doses above 10,000 IU not be administered to women during the first trimester of pregnancy because of potential teratogenic effects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Large dose vitamin A to control vitamin A deficiency. 250 5

The contribution of nutritional interventions to the reduction in maternal morbidity rates in developing countries is not well known. We assessed the impact of weekly vitamin A and beta-carotene supplementation on the prevalence of pregnancy and postpartum illness symptoms among 15,832 Nepali women in a placebo-controlled, double-masked, cluster-randomized trial. There was no impact of either supplement on morbidity rates reported up to 28 wk of gestation, inclusive. However, in late pregnancy (>28 wk), symptoms of nausea, faintness and night blindness were reduced with vitamin A, but not beta-carotene, supplementation. Vitamin A supplementation shortened the length of labor by 1.5 h 50 min among nulliparous and multiparous women, respectively. Both interventions reduced the postpartum prevalence of at least four loose stools and night blindness. beta-Carotene supplementation also reduced symptoms of high fever postpartum. The mean number of days of any reported illness symptoms was 3-4 per wk throughout pregnancy. Among women receiving vitamin A, the total number of days of illness symptoms accrued over the last 12 wk of pregnancy was lower by 5 d compared with the placebo recipients. We found the burden of pregnancy-related illness symptoms to be high in this rural area of Nepal where antenatal care is poor and most deliveries occur at home. Maternal vitamin A or beta-carotene supplementation resulted in a reduction in the prevalence of selected illness symptoms during late pregnancy, at the time of birth and during 6 mo postpartum, suggesting that a diet adequate in vitamin A may be important for improving women's reproductive health.
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PMID:Vitamin A or beta-carotene supplementation reduces symptoms of illness in pregnant and lactating Nepali women. 1105 6