Vitamin A and zinc supplements protect against malaria, say African scientists

Published: 25-Feb-2008

Taking a single dose of vitamin A and a daily zinc supplement can protect young children from contracting malaria, according to research from the Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Sante in Burkina Faso, west Africa.


Taking a single dose of vitamin A and a daily zinc supplement can protect young children from contracting malaria, according to research from the Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Sante in Burkina Faso, west Africa.

A double blind trial published in the Nutrition Journal gave children aged from 6 to 72 months single doses of 200,000 IU of vitamin A and daily 10 mg of zinc supplement, with others receiving a placebo.

Researchers found a significant decrease of 34% in the expected malaria cases in the supplemented group; the placebo group had 3.5% fewer cases. The supplements also delayed malarial symptoms in sufferers and reduced the frequency of episodes.

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