The risk of stunting associated with episodes of persistent diarrhea lasting 14 or more days during follow-up was virtually eliminated by vitamin A supplements. Among children in the placebo group, the average risk of stunting associated with 1 or more episodes of persistent diarrhea between 2 consecutive visits was 5.2 times higher 95% CI: 2.4-11.2 than that of children without diarrhea or with acute episodes. In contrast, among children who received vitamin A, there was virtually no risk of stunting associated with persistent diarrhea relative risk: 1.0; 95% CI: 0.3-1.3. This effect was slightly attenuated after controlling for the number of household possessions, gender, baseline low arm circumference, HIV infection, and presence of malaria parasites in blood. Vitamin A supplements did not modify the associations between respiratory infections and the risk of stunting or wasting.
via Vitamin A supplements ameliorate the adverse effe… [Pediatrics. 2002] – PubMed – NCBI.