Vitamin A and mystery pneumonia

Vitamin A is needed for immunity and is cheap Vitamin A (which is retinol) and immunity WHO report Vitamin A has several important functions helping natural defence against illness and infection (immune system) work properly helping vision in dim light keeping skin and the lining of some parts of the body, such as the nose, healthy Good sources of vitamin A Good sources of vitamin A (retinol) include: cheese eggs oily fish fortified low-fat spreads milk and yoghurt liver and liver pâté If you’re pregnant you should avoid eating liver or liver products, (NHS, 2023) Excess vitamin A is toxic. Vitamin A deficiency What are the consequences and implications? Night blindness is one of the first signs of vitamin A deficiency. In its more severe forms, vitamin A deficiency contributes to blindness by making the cornea very dry, thus damaging the retina and cornea. An estimated 250 000–500 000 children who are vitamin A-deficient become blind every year, and half of them die within 12 months of losing their sight. World’s leading preventable cause of childhood blindness. Deficiency of vitamin A is associated with significant morbidity and mortality from common childhood infections, Vitamin A deficiency also contributes to maternal mortality and other poor outcomes of pregnancy and lactation. It also diminishes the ability to fight infections. Even mild, subclinical deficiency can be a problem, because it may increase children’s risk for respiratory and diarrhoeal infections, decrease growth rates, slow bone development and decrease the likelihood of survival from serious illness. Beta carotene Red-orange pigment, in plants and fruits, especially carrots and colourful vegetables. The body converts beta carotene into vitamin A The advantage of dietary beta carotene is that the body only converts as much as it needs. Healthy antioxidant May prevent cognitive decline May help lung function Both may be due to preventing oxidative stress #_noHeaderPrefixedContent Foods rich in beta carotene: Apricots, Asparagus, Broccoli, Carrots, Chives, Dandelion leaves, Grapefruit, (Chilli powder, oregano, paprika, parsley), Kale, Onions, Peas, Peppers, Plums, Pumpkin, Spinach, Squash, Sweet potatoes. Role of Vitamin A in the Immune System Needed for mucous membrane innate immunity (respiratory and GI) Essential for the normal function of many immune cells such as T lymphocytes Vitamin A deficiency is associated with severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children Beijing, Feb, 2020 N = 122 children, (0 – 15) 52 sMPP Severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia 70 nsMPP Non-severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia Serum levels of vitamins A, D, and E were measured and compared, and correlated with nsMPP and sMPP. Results The age was older in the sMPP samples than that in the nsMPP samples. ( vs. ) So older children suffered more severe infections. Vitamin A deficiency was present in both the nsMPP and sMPP samples. Vitamin A levels were significantly lower in the sMPP serum than that in the nsMPP serum. ( vs. ) Vitamin A deficiency was defined Deficiency, less than 0.2 mg/L, Subclinical vitamin A deficiency, 0.2–0.3 mg/L Normal vitamin A level by 0.3–0.7 mg/L. So, children with lower vitamin A levels suffered more severe infections. Vitamins E and D levels were also lower in sMPP children Vitamin E (7.4 vs. ) Vitamin D ( vs. ) Both sMPP and nsMPP did not show a deficiency of vitamins E and D. Vitamin A deficiency OR – , (P=) associated with sMPP Incidence of vitamin A deficiency Vitamin A deficiency in under 6 years was 85% of children Vitamin A deficiency in over 6 years was 62.5% of children Vitamin A supplementation could reduce the incidence of sMPP. Conclusions Vitamin A deficiency is associated with sMPP and more likely present in the younger sMPP children. Therefore, it is important to monitor and supplement vitamin A in Mycoplasma pneumonia patients.