Effect of deworming on physical fitness of school-aged children in Yunnan, China: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Yap, P. et al. (2014) Effect of deworming on physical fitness of school-aged children in Yunnan, China: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 8(7), e2983. (doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002983) (PMID:25010608) (PMCID:PMC4091871)

Abstract

Background: There is considerable debate on the health impacts of soil-transmitted helminth infections. We assessed effects of deworming on physical fitness and strength of children in an area in Yunnan, People's Republic of China, where soil-transmitted helminthiasis is highly endemic. Methodology: The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted between October 2011 and May 2012. Children, aged 9–12 years, were treated with either triple-dose albendazole or placebo, and monitored for 6 months post-treatment. The Kato-Katz and Baermann techniques were used for the diagnosis of soil-transmitted helminth infections. Physical fitness was assessed with a 20-m shuttle run test, where the maximum aerobic capacity within 1 min of exhaustive exercise (VO2 max estimate) and the number of 20-m laps completed were recorded. Physical strength was determined with grip strength and standing broad jump tests. Body height and weight, the sum of skinfolds, and hemoglobin levels were recorded as secondary outcomes. Principal Findings: Children receiving triple-dose albendazole scored slightly higher in the primary and secondary outcomes than placebo recipients, but the difference lacked statistical significance. Trichuris trichiura-infected children had 1.6 ml kg−1 min−1 (P = 0.02) less increase in their VO2 max estimate and completed 4.6 (P = 0.04) fewer 20-m laps than at baseline compared to non-infected peers. Similar trends were detected in the VO2 max estimate and grip strength of children infected with hookworm and Ascaris lumbricoides, respectively. In addition, the increase in the VO2 max estimate from baseline was consistently higher in children with low-intensity T. trichiura and hookworm infections than in their peers with high-intensity infections of all soil-transmitted helminths (range: 1.9–2.1 ml kg−1 min−1; all P<0.05). Conclusions/Significance: We found no strong evidence for significant improvements in physical fitness and anthropometric indicators due to deworming over a 6-month follow-up period. However, the negative effect of T. trichiura infections on physical fitness warrants further investigation.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: Funding: This study received financial support from the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute in Basel, Switzerland and the National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center of Diseases Control and Prevention in Shanghai, P.R. China. The research of SJK and JU is financially supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (project no. 320030_141246).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Krauth, Dr Stefanie
• Authors: Yap, P., Wu, F.-W., Du, Z.-W., Hattendorf, J., Chen, R., Jiang, J.-Y., Kriemler, S., Krauth, S. J., Zhou, X.-N., Utzinger, J., and Steinmann, P.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
• Publisher: Public Library of Science
• ISSN: 1935-2727
• ISSN (Online): 1935-2735
• Published Online: 10 July 2014
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2014 Yap et al.
• First Published: First published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 8(7):e2983
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons license