Vitamin and trace mineral supplements plus antibiotic treatment improve recovery and reduce hospitalization in children with community-acquired pneumonia.

This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the therapeutic advantages of micronutrient supplementation, such as Zinc and Vitamin A in young children (aged less than equal to 5 years) with Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP).

This study comprised 90 pediatric patients with severe pneumonia aged 6 months to 55 months who were randomized into 3 groups:

Group 1: Children received Zinc supplementation.

Group 2: Children received Vitamin A supplementation.

Group 3 (Control/placebo group): Children received exclusive antibiotic treatment for pneumonia.

The treatment included oral administration of either a β-lactam (Amoxicillin-clavulanate) at doses of 500 mg/125 mg thrice daily, 875 mg/125 mg twice daily, or 2000 mg/125 mg once per day. Oral macrolide (Azithromycin or Clarithromycin) or Doxycycline 100 mg twice per day were given to children in the control group. Linear regression analysis demonstrated notable decreases in the duration of hospitalization and the incidence of active pneumonic effusion.

Both Zinc and Vitamin A supplements reduced number of days in the hospital (reduced by 3.17 days [p < 0.01, 95% CI: 5.19-1.31] and 2.39 days [p < 0.01, 95% CI: 4.19-0.470], respectively. The use of these micronutrients was also linked with shorter pneumonic effusion duration.

Vitamin A and Zinc when used along with the usual CAP treatments can lead to improved clinical outcomes and abridged burden of health care costs.