Double blind, cluster randomised trial of low dose supplementation with vitamin A or β carotene on mortality related to pregnancy in Nepal

This general practice paper by Keith P West Jr and colleagues (27 February, pp 570-5) contains some minor errors that do not affect the validity of the conclusions. The last paragraph of the results section (p 573) should have read: “The maternal mortality ratio was 630 [not 645] (42 deaths/6670 live births), 407 (29/7120 [not 29/7074]), and 346 [not 361] (23/6643) per 100 000 live births in the placebo, vitamin A, and β carotene groups, respectively (P=0.11 [not 0.08] for vitamin A and 0.04 for β carotene v placebo). The ratio for women receiving either vitamin A or β carotene was 378 [not 385].” In the section of table 5 (p 574) labelled “infection” the values for the column for vitamin A should have been 2, 5, 3, 4, 14, 181, and 0.87 (0.39 to 1.96) [not 2, 5, 5, 3, 15, 194, and 0.94 (0.42 to 2.05)]; the values for the column for β carotene should have been 3, 3, 1, 3, 10, 139, and 0.67 (0.28 to 1.62) [not 3, 2, 1, 3, 9, 125, and 0.60 (0.24 to 1.51)]; the values for the column for vitamin A or β carotene should have been 5, 8, 4, 7, 24, 161, and 0.78 (0.39 to 1.58) [not 5, 7, 6, 6, 24, 161, and 0.78 (0.39 to 1.58)]; and the footnote for “Other” infections should have also included tuberculosis.