Albendazole increases serum retinol concentration in primary schoolchildren with low serum retinol

Main Article Content

Jane Florida Kalumpiu
Yenny Djuardi
Taniawati Supali

Abstract

Background
Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection is still a health problem in Indonesia. Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is often found together with STH. The effect of the deworming program on the vitamin A status of primary school children is unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of albendazole on serum retinol concentrations in primary school children.

Methods
An experimental study of pre-post test design without control was carried out on 118 children from grades 3-5 at one primary school in North Jakarta, from July to September 2014. Flotac examination was used to determine STH infections and high performance liquid chromatography was performed to measure serum retinol concentration. Stool and blood samples were taken twice: before and three weeks after treatment with albendazole 400 mg single dose for three consecutive days given to all children either infected or uninfected. Paired t-test was used to analyze the data.

Results
Of the 118 children, the prevalence of STH was 71.2%. The prevalence of low retinol serum (<1.05 mmol/L) was 17 (17.2%) and of mild VAD was 2 (2.0%). Albendazole given in 3 consecutive days could not increase serum retinol concentrations (p=0.055). Serum retinol concentration significantly increased after albendazole treatment in children with low retinol serum at baseline (p=0.001).

Conclusions
In children with low serum retinol concentration, treatment with albendazole increased retinol concentration. Integrated deworming and vitamin A supplementation strategies should be evaluated in this population.

Article Details

How to Cite
Kalumpiu, J. F., Djuardi, Y., & Supali, T. (2015). Albendazole increases serum retinol concentration in primary schoolchildren with low serum retinol. Universa Medicina, 34(2), 121–128. https://doi.org/10.18051/UnivMed.2015.v34.121-128
Section
Review Article
Author Biographies

Jane Florida Kalumpiu, Trisakti university

Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine

Yenny Djuardi, University of Indonesia

Department of Parasitolgy, Faculty of medicine

Taniawati Supali, Tarumanegara University

Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine

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