A Systematic Review on Randomized Controlled Trials Impact of Intestinal Anthelmintic Drug Administration on Hemoglobin Levels
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48047/a73zt436Keywords:
Anemia, Deworming, Intestinal Anthelmintic Drugs, HemoglobinAbstract
Anemia is a major concern in the common health with extensive implications on human health, economic performance, and social progress. Although iron deficiency is generally recognized as the most common cause of anemia, the contribution of intestinal helminths to anemia has been getting an increasing interest. The objective of the present systematic review and meta-regression analysis is to assess the effect of regular intestinal anthelmintic drugs on the hemoglobin levels and the prevalence of anemia. The effect of deworming on baseline anemia, and the predictors of efficacy were studied by conducting a comprehensive search of randomized controlled trials. The meta-regression analysis showed that the effect of deworming on hemoglobin was significant but small particularly in high-prevalence anaemic populations. The adult populations showed the most significant improvement whereas the effect was not that significant in case children were included. Also, there was no significant difference in the effectiveness of iron supplementation used together with deworming to improve hemoglobin levels at the other factor held constant. The decrease in prevalence of anemia was highest at lower cut-offs of hemoglobin (e.g. 180 g/l) especially in high-baseline anemia populations. These results indicate that deworming may be a useful intervention particularly in those regions where anemia is severely high.
Downloads
References
Joint statement by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund. Focusing on anaemia: towards an integrated approach for effective anaemia control. 2004. .www.paho.org/English/AD/FCH/NU/WHO04_Anemia.pdf
United Nations Administrative Committee on Coordination Sub-Committee on Nutrition (ACC/SCN). Fourth report on the world nutrition situation Geneva: ACC/SCN, International Food Policy Research Institute, 2000
Mason JB, Lotfi M, Dalmiya N, Sethuraman K, Deitchler M, Geibel S, et al. The micronutrient report: current progress and trends in the control of vitamin A, iodine and iron deficiencies Ottawa: Micronutrient Initiative, 2001. (Available at www.micronutrient.org
Gera T, Sachdev HPS, Nestel P, Sachdev SS. Effect of iron supplementation on hemoglobin response in children: systematic review of randomized control trials. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2007. (in press). [DOI] [PubMed]
World Health Organization. The millennium development goals: deworming. Geneva: WHO, 2005. (WHO/CDS/CPE/PVC/2005.1.)
Ezeamama AE, Friedman JF, Olveda RM, Acosta LP, Kurtis JD, Mor V, et al. Functional significance of low-intensity polyparasite helminth infections in anemia. J Infect Dis 2005;192:2160-70. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Higgins JPT, Green S, eds. Assessment of study quality. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions 4.2.6 [updated September 2006]; Section 6. In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 4. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, 2006
Juni P, Altman DJ, Egger M. Assessing the quality of randomized controlled trials. In: Egger M, Smith GD, Altman DG, eds. Systematic reviews in health care: meta-analysis in context London: BMJ Publishing, 2001:87-108.
Sterne JAC, Egger M, Smith GD. Investigating and dealing with publication and other biases. In: Egger M, Smith GD, Altman DJ, eds. Systematic reviews in health care: meta-analysis in context London: BMJ Publishing, 2001:189-208. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed]
Stephenson LS. Impact of helminth infections on human nutrition New York: Oxford University Press, 1993:131-60.
Dickson R, Awasthi S, Williamson P, Demellweek C, Garner P. Effects of treatment for intestinal helminth infection on growth and cognitive performance in children: systematic review of randomised trials. BMJ 2000;320:1697-701. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
World Health Organization. Report of the WHO informal consultation on the use of praziquantel during pregnancy/lactation and albendazole/mebendazole in children under 24 months Geneva: WHO, 2002. (WHO/CDC/CPE/PVC/2002.4.)
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (UK) and Neonatal and Paediatrics Pharmacists Group (UK). Medicines for children 1st Indian edition. New Delhi: B I Publications, 2004:14.
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (UK) and Neonatal and Paediatrics Pharmacists Group (UK). Medicines for children 1st Indian edition. New Delhi: B I Publications, 2004:379.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially.
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
- The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
Under the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit , provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made . You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Notices:
You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation .
No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.
