Vitamin a deficiency is still a public health problem in India

Abstract

Approximately one third of the world’s preschool-age population is estimated to be vitamin A deficient; with highest prevalence (44-50%) being reported in regions of Africa and South-East Asia [1].Vitamin A deficiency continues to be a major public health nutritional problem in India. The prevalence of Bitot’s spot, the objective sign of clinical VAD (0.8%) was higher than the figures recommended by the WHO (0.5%), indicating the public health significance in rural pre-school children of India [2]. While in case of blood vitamin A deficiency (<20μg/dL), the prevalence (61%) was a severe public health problem (20%) [4] in all NNMB states, ranging from 52% in Maharashtra to 88% in Madhya Pradesh. The proportion of severe blood VAD (<10μg/dL) was (21.5%) also 5%, indicating severe public health problem [3] in all the National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (NNMB) states [4].