Vitamin A Therapy in Children with Kwashiorkor

Abstract

Oral and intramuscular administration of oily and water-miscible preparations of vitamin A was tried in children with kwashiorkor and in normal controls. Intramuscular injections of vitamin A in oil did not raise serum levels in all children with protein-calorie malnutrition. Vitamin A in oil orally administered was poorly absorbed in children with kwashiorkor during their first few days in the hospital. Water-miscible vitamin A by oral or intramuscular routes elevated serum levels rapidly in patients and controls. Absorption of oral water-miscible A was erratic. Based on these results a single intramuscular injection of 100,000 IU of water-miscible palmitate is recommended for the initial treatment of children with kwashiorkor and severe vitamin A deficiency.