JiVitA – 1

Maternal vitamin A or beta-carotene supplementation trial to reduce maternal and infant mortality 

The first study conducted, "JiVitA-1," which began in 2001, was a cluster randomized, double-masked trial that assessed the efficacy of a weekly dietary supplement containing an RDA of vitamin A, either preformed or as beta (ß)-carotene (the major dietary precursor of the vitamin) compared to a placebo from the 1^st trimester of pregnancy through 12 weeks post-partum, in reducing all-cause, pregnancy-related mortality, stillbirths and infant mortality through 3 months of age.

The trial enumerated 130,000 married women of reproductive age who were followed monthly to detect pregnancies through a menstrual history confirmed by an hCG-based urine test. Nearly 60,000 pregnant women were enrolled, supplemented and followed over the course of 6 years.

Mortality of women in this rural Bangladeshi population was 230/100,000 pregnancies. There was no impact of the supplementation on maternal or infant mortality. Numerous analyses are underway to further examine trial impact on specified outcomes and numerous influences of maternal health and nutrition on pregnancy and infant health outcomes.

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