An observational study in Diarrhea and Infantile, sponsored by Institut Pasteur. Completed at 3 sites in 3 countries. Open to participants aged 18 Months to 60 Months, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-02-03.
Sponsored by Institut Pasteur · Observational
Diarrheal disease is the second leading cause of death in children under five, althought it is both preventable and treatable. The causative factors of diarrheal diseases vary a lot from region to region (bacteria, viruses, parasites). Diarrhea is one of the main causes of malnutrition in children under five years of age. Inversely, nutritional deficiency, particularly vitamin C deficiency, can be a risk factor for diarrhea.
The main objective of this study is to assess the impact of vitamin C deficiency on diarrheal infection in children aged 2 to 5 years in countries with a high diarrheal rate. This pilot case-control study will be conducted in metropolitan France, Africa and South America. This question will be addressed by comparing vitamin C levels in children with diarrhea, regardless of the infectious agent, to levels in age- and sex-matched controls.
Diarrheal disease is the second leading cause of death in children under five, althought it is both preventable and treatable. The causative factors of diarrheal diseases vary a lot from region to region (bacteria, viruses, parasites). Diarrhea is one of the main causes of malnutrition in children under five years of age. Inversely, nutritional deficiency, particularly vitamin C deficiency, can be a risk factor for diarrhea.
The main objective of this study is to assess the impact of vitamin C deficiency on diarrheal infection in children aged 2 to 5 years in countries with a high diarrheal rate. This pilot case-control study will be conducted in metropolitan France, Africa and South America. This question will be addressed by comparing vitamin C levels in children with diarrhea, regardless of the infectious agent, to levels in age- and sex-matched controls.
The study aims at (i) determining whether vitamin-deficiency may occurs in children living in developing countries and at (ii) determining the plasma vitamin A, C and E concentrations in children suffering of diarrheal diseases.
A total of 360 children will participate to the study.
852 studies on the registry are indexed under Diarrhea; 78 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 288 is above the median of 200 across 105 observational studies indexed under Diarrhea.
Browse Diarrhea studies →Institut Pasteur is the lead sponsor of 96 studies on the registry; 40 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
The study population is children aged 18 months to 5 years (60 months) in metropolitan France, Central African Republic, and South America.
Control subjects will be included in the hospital when they come for consultation for reasons other than diarrhea.
Children suffering from acute or chronic diarrhea will be included in the hospital during a consultation.
Controls :
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion criteria :
Chronic diarrhea cases :
Inclusion Criteria:
-Children suffering from chronic diarrhea defined by the emission of at least 3 soft or liquid stools per day for at least 4 weeks.
Exclusion criteria :
Acute diarrhea cases :
Inclusion Criteria:
-Children suffering from acute diarrhea defined as 3 or more loose or watery stools per day for at least 3 consecutive days and up to 10 consecutive days.
Exclusion criteria :
Children with acute diarrhea defined as at least 3 loose or watery stools per day for at least 3 consecutive days and up to 10 consecutive days
Diagnostic Test: Blood sample collection
Children with chronic diarrhea defined as 3 or more loose or liquid stools per day for at least 4 weeks
Diagnostic Test: Blood sample collection
Children without fever or signs of infection or ongoing diarrhea
Diagnostic Test: Blood sample collection
Blood sample collection for dosage of vitamin C
Plasma levels of vitamin C
Plasma levels of vitamin C will be used to determine whether vitamin-deficiency may occurs in children living in developing countries
Time frame: 1 year
Plasma levels of vitamin A, C and E
Plasma levels of vitamin A, C and E will be used to determine the plasma vitamin A, C and E concentrations in children suffering of diarrheal diseases
Time frame: 1 year
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
This study is completed, as verified in Jan 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Institut Pasteur