Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin A
For the health condition: Pneumonia

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Vitamin A has been investigated as a supportive therapy for pneumonia, particularly in children. The rationale comes from the role of vitamin A in maintaining epithelial integrity and immune function, which are important in respiratory tract infections. Vitamin A deficiency is known to increase susceptibility to infections, including those of the respiratory system. Some studies, especially in low- and middle-income countries where vitamin A deficiency is more common, have suggested that supplementation may reduce morbidity and mortality from pneumonia in deficient populations. However, large randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews have generally found that, outside the context of measles-associated pneumonia or populations with clear vitamin A deficiency, supplementation does not significantly improve outcomes in children with pneumonia. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends vitamin A supplementation for managing measles but does not recommend routine use for non-measles pneumonia. In summary, while there is a scientific rationale and some evidence for its use in specific deficient populations, the overall quality and consistency of evidence for vitamin A as a general treatment or adjunct in pneumonia is limited. Therefore, its use is considered to have some scientific basis, but the strength of evidence is low to moderate (rated 2/5), and it is not widely recommended except in cases of deficiency or specific indications such as measles-related pneumonia.

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