Impact of vitamin A supplementation on xerophthalmia. A randomized controlled community trial
E. Djunaedi, A. Sommer, A. Pandji, and H. R. Taylor
Ministry of Health, Government of Indonesia, Jakarta.
The value of biannual distribution of 200,000 IU of vitamin A in preventing
xerophthalmia was assessed in a randomized, controlled community-based
trial involving 25,000 preschool children in 450 villages of northern
Sumatra. Results indicate that distribution was associated with a dramatic
decline in xerophthalmia prevalence; that concurrent controls were critical
for distinguishing spontaneous from program-related changes; and that the
apparent level of benefit depended on the choice of clinical indicator(s).
Night blindness ceases to be an accurate reflection of impact when
prevalence rates are low, and comparison of Bitot's spot rates should be
confined to new cases of disease.
