Child Vitamin A Deficiency. Improving the vitamin a status of young children in developing countries reduces child death rates by 20 50 which suggests that a substantial portion of their mortality is attributable to vitamin a deficiency. Considering that a large number of foods contain provitamin a carotenoids many of which are accessible and inexpensive even for the very poor why is vitamin a deficiency a widespread worldwide problem.
Post partum vitamin a supplementation. In this australian cohort the most common pre existing medical conditions in those children whose vitamin a status was investigated were cystic fibrosis gastro oesophageal reflux disease micronutrient deficiency and short gut syndrome. Considering that a large number of foods contain provitamin a carotenoids many of which are accessible and inexpensive even for the very poor why is vitamin a deficiency a widespread worldwide problem.
Vitamin a supplementation in infants and children 6 59 months of age vitamin a deficiency affects about 190 million preschool age children mostly from africa and south east asia.
Control of vitamin a deficiency. Supplementing with vitamin a in combination with other nutrients may improve growth more than supplementing with vitamin a alone. All children aged 6 12 months should receive one 100 000 iu dose of vitamin. In infants and children vitamin a is essential to support rapid growth and to help combat infections.