One-third of malaria cases cut by vit A and zinc

A study in the Nutrition Journal has found that dietary supplements for children can reduce the incidence of malaria by one third. A combination of vitamin A and zinc was found to improve the ability of children aged six months to six years in Burkina Faso to resist the disease.

The placebo-controlled research was carried out by the Burkina Faso Health Sciences Research Institute (IRSS). Speaking to the UK public broadcaster, the BBC, Ron Berens, a tropical diseases expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, acknowledged that zinc supplements have positive effects on a number of diseases, but that the benefits for malaria might be restricted to populations suffering from specific malnutrition problems. Dr Berens said: "neither of these micronutrients is totally safe. They should be used like pharmaceuticals and not seen as cure-alls."