Adjuvant effect of vitamin A on recurrent lower urinary tract infections

• Published in: Pediatrics international Vol. 49; no. 3; pp. 310 - 313
• Main Authors: YILMAZ, AYGEN, BAHAT, ELIF, YILMAZ, GULSUN GULAY, HASANOGLU, ALEV, AKMAN, SEMA, GUVEN, AYFER GUR
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Publishing Asia 01.06.2007
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; beta Carotene - blood; Child; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; immunity; Incidence; Male; Recurrence; Spectrophotometry; Treatment Outcome; Turkey - epidemiology; urinary tract infection; Urinary Tract Infections - blood; Urinary Tract Infections - drug therapy; Urinary Tract Infections - epidemiology; Urodynamics; vitamin A; Vitamin A - administration & dosage; Vitamin A - pharmacokinetics; Vitamins - administration & dosage; Vitamins - pharmacokinetics; Turkey
• ISSN: 1328-8067; 1442-200X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-200X.2007.02370.x

Background: The purpose of the present paper was to investigate the effects of vitamin A supplementation on recurrent lower urinary tract infections (RUTI). Methods: Twenty‐four patients with non‐complicated RUTI were included in a placebo‐controlled, double‐blinded study. Twelve patients received a single dose of 200 000 IU vitamin A in addition to antimicrobial therapy. Patient and control groups (each containing 12 patients) were followed for up to 1 year and were evaluated for eradication and frequency of lower urinary tract infections (UTI). Serum levels of vitamin A and β‐carotene were determined periodically. Results: During the first 6 months follow‐up period the infection rate of the vitamin A‐supplemented group reduced from 3.58 to 0.75 per 6 months, and in the subsequent 6 months the infection rate was 1.75 per 6 months. These values were calculated as 2.75, 2.83 and 2.66, respectively, in the placebo group. Conclusion: Vitamin A supplementation may have an adjuvant effect on the treatment of RUTI.