Vitamin A could save hundreds of thousands of children

Vitamin A supplements could significantly reduce child mortality

26.08.2011

Vitamin A supplements could save the lives of hundreds of thousands of children in developing and emerging countries, say British and Pakistani researchers in the journal „British Medical Journal“.

In a comprehensive review study, the scientists evaluated the data from 43 studies on the effects of vitamin A, involving more than 200,000 children between the ages of six months and five years. In their meta-analysis, researchers led by Professor Zulfiqar Bhutta from the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi (Pakistan) conclude that vitamin D supplementation in developing and emerging countries could reduce child mortality by 24 percent. According to the scientists, this would correspond to a figure of 600,000 children per year, which could be saved by an adequate supply of vitamin A..

According to Professor Zulfiqar Bhutta and colleagues, there are signs of the benefits of vitamin A supplements in poorer countries „clearly“, that you should immediately start using it on site. The children in developing and emerging countries must be immediately supplied with appropriate vitamin A supplements, without wasting time with further studies, because the evidence for the life-saving effectiveness of the preparations are long ago, said Professor Bhutta. In addition, the vitamin A supplements are relatively inexpensive and have few side effects, the expert continues. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is estimated that around 190 million children under the age of five suffer from vitamin A deficiency worldwide. The health impairments caused by this range from dry skin, hair loss, visual difficulties and night blindness through an increased susceptibility to infection to anemia, heart disease and an increased risk of cancer. In addition, fertility disorders are a possible consequence of the vitamin deficiency, also known as hypovitaminosis. In addition, in children who ingest too little vitamin A, relatively often occur growth disorders.

Since vitamin A can not be produced by the organism, humans have to absorb these vital nutrients with their food. The actual daily requirement depends on the age, gender and individual circumstances. The recommended daily amount, according to the experts in adults on average between 0.8 to 1.0 milligrams. In food, vitamin A can either be contained directly as such or in the form of so-called carotenes (provitamin A), which are converted by the body into vitamin A. A relatively high proportion of vitamin A, for example, liver of chicken or beef as well as butter and egg yolk. Carrots, pumpkins, kale and spinach contain relatively much provitamin A. (fp)

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Picture: Dr. Leonora black