WHO guidelines vitamin A?

WHO guidelines vitamin A?

In settings where vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem (prevalence of night blindness is 1% or higher in children 24–59 months of age or where the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (serum retinol 0.70 µmol/l or lower) is 20% or higher in infants and children 6–59 months of age), high-dose vitamin A …

WHO recommends vitamin A for measles?

Since 1997, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have recommended that 200,000 International Units (IUs) of vitamin A be given twice to all children older than 1 year diagnosed with measles and living in an area where vitamin A deficiency is common.

Why is vitamin A deficiency a public health concern explain?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vitamin A deficiency not only causes preventable childhood blindness, but also contributes to morbidity and mortality from infections, specifically during highly nutritionally demanding life stages including infancy, childhood, pregnancy, and lactation (WHO, 2009).

Why is vitamin A deficiency in developing countries?

Economic constraints, sociocultural limitations, insufficient dietary intake, and poor absorption leading to depleted vitamin A stores in the body have been regarded as potential determinants of the prevalence of VAD in South Asian developing countries.

WHO recommended supplements?

Supplemental vitamin D for infants, children, and teens who do not consume large amounts of milk fortified with vitamin D. Folic acid for women of childbearing age who may become pregnant. Folic acid and a multivitamin with iron for many pregnant women. Supplemental B-12 and vitamin D for people over age 50.

Who vit a prophylaxis?

In 1970, the National Prophylaxis Programme Against Nutritional Blindness was initiated as a centrally sponsored scheme. Under this scheme, all children between ages of one and three years were to be administered 200,000 IU of Vitamin A orally once in six months.

Why is vitamin A used for measles?

Vitamin A is a necessary substrate for preserving epithelial cell integrity and in addition plays a role in immune modulation.

How is vitamin A given measles?

Vitamin A for treatment of measles is administered once daily for 2 days, at the following doses: 200,000 IU for children 12 months or older; 100,000 IU for infants 6 through 11 months old; and. 50,000 IU for infants younger than 6 months.

Who is most at risk for vitamin A deficiency?

While deficiency is rare in developed countries, many people in developing countries do not get enough vitamin A. Those at highest risk of deficiency are pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, infants and children. Cystic fibrosis and chronic diarrhea may also increase your risk of deficiency.

Why do we need vitamin A?

Vitamin A (retinol, retinoic acid) is a nutrient important to vision, growth, cell division, reproduction and immunity. Vitamin A also has antioxidant properties.

What country has the most vitamin deficiency?

Vitamin-A deficiency in children The highest prevalence occurs in Kenya, where almost 85 percent of children suffer from vitamin-A deficiency. By 2005 the prevalence across Central Europe and Latin America was lower than in Africa and Asia, with rates of deficiency typically between 5-20 percent of children.

What is the healthiest vitamin?

Why you need it — Vitamin B12 helps keep your nerve and blood cells healthy, and it aids in your body’s energy production and DNA. You need to be able to absorb it properly to get these benefits. As you age, you have less acid in your stomach to break down protein and release vitamin B12 from food.

What is a quality assurance for vitamin A supplements?

A quality assurance process should be established to guarantee that supplements are manufactured, packaged and stored in a controlled and uncontaminated environment (6). When determining the vitamin A status of a population, guidelines on indicators for assessing vitamin A deficiency should be referred to (7, 8).

Is vitamin A supplementation safe during immunization campaigns?

Background. Vitamin A supplementation has been successfully linked with vaccination campaigns and routine immunization services in many countries. Providing high-dose supplementation to mothers at immunization contacts soon after delivery provides a further benefit to young infants through enriched breast milk.

Is there a vitamin A supplement for children?

Vitamin A supplementation. Background. Vitamin A is essential for the functioning of the immune system and the healthy growth and development of children, and is usually acquired through a healthy diet. However, it is estimated that, globally, 190 million children under five years of age are affected by vitamin A deficiency 1.

What are the long term effects of vitamin A supplementation?

This intervention should be used along with other strategies to improve vitamin A intakes, such as dietary diversification (4) and food fortification (5). Adverse effects within 48 hours of receiving supplements containing 100 000–200 000 IU vitamin A are usually mild and transient, with no longterm consequences.