QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Miller, M. Articles by Katz, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Miller, M. Articles by Katz, J.

---

Supplement: Proceedings of the XX International Vitamin A Consultative Group Meeting

Why Do Children Become Vitamin A Deficient?^{1 ,,2}

Melissa Miller^*,, Jean Humphrey^*,3, Elizabeth Johnson, Edmore Marinda, Ron Brookmeyer and Joanne Katz^**

^* Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Department of Biostatistics and ^** Department of International Health, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205 and ZVITAMBO Project, Harare, Zimbabwe

³To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: humphrey{at}zvitambo.icon.co.zw.

Vitamin A deficiency is very prevalent and contributes substantially to morbidity and mortality among young children in developing countries. We identify and quantify three causes of vitamin A deficiency in young children based on data available in the literature: maternal vitamin A deficiency resulting in low concentrations of vitamin A in breast milk, inadequate dietary intake of vitamin A during and after weaning and prevalent illness. We developed a set of recursive equations to estimate the amount of vitamin A in the liver as a function of age over the first 2 y of life. To apply the equations, we selected a best estimate value for each input parameter as the most representative of a typical child in a developing country. Because of the great variability that exists for each variable, we also carried out sensitivity analyses, substituting more extreme values for input parameters. We then estimated stores, assuming a child in a developing country also receives the newly revised vitamin A supplementation regimen recommended by the World Health Organization. Without supplementation, a typical child in a developing country is not able to attain and maintain "minimally adequate" liver vitamin A stores. To overcome this deficit by eating fruits and vegetables alone, the child would need to increase portion sizes about 10-fold. If the child receives the new supplementation regimen, his or her liver stores will still be far short of the average American child (i.e., exceedingly far from toxic levels). However, our estimates indicate that the new supplementation regimen will permit a typical child in a developing country setting to attain minimally adequate vitamin A stores during the first 2 y of life.

KEY WORDS: • vitamin A deficiency • children • liver stores • vitamin A supplementation • dietary intake.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W. C. Leung, S. Hessel, C. Meplan, J. Flint, V. Oberhauser, F. Tourniaire, J. E. Hesketh, J. von Lintig, and G. Lietz Two common single nucleotide polymorphisms in the gene encoding {beta}-carotene 15,15'-monoxygenase alter {beta}-carotene metabolism in female volunteers FASEB J, April 1, 2009; 23(4): 1041 - 1053. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. B Fisker, I. M Lisse, P. Aaby, J. G Erhardt, A. Rodrigues, B. M Bibby, and C. S Benn Effect of vitamin A supplementation with BCG vaccine at birth on vitamin A status at 6 wk and 4 mo of age Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, October 1, 2007; 86(4): 1032 - 1039. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. D. Gokhale, S. A. Udipi, R. Y. Ambaye, S. K. Pai, and S. H. Advani Post-Therapy Profile of Serum Total Cholesterol, Retinol and Zinc in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma J. Am. Coll. Nutr., February 1, 2007; 26(1): 49 - 56. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. B. Maziya-Dixon, I. O. Akinyele, R. A. Sanusi, T. E. Oguntona, S. K. Nokoe, and E. W. Harris Vitamin A Deficiency Is Prevalent in Children Less Than 5 y of Age in Nigeria J. Nutr., August 1, 2006; 136(8): 2255 - 2261. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. F Miller, R. J Stoltzfus, P. J Iliff, L. C Malaba, N. V Mbuya, the Zimbabwe Vitamin A for Mothers and Babies Proj, and J. H Humphrey Effect of maternal and neonatal vitamin A supplementation and other postnatal factors on anemia in Zimbabwean infants: a prospective, randomized study Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, July 1, 2006; 84(1): 212 - 222. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Sommer and F. R. Davidson Assessment and Control of Vitamin A Deficiency: The Annecy Accords J. Nutr., September 1, 2002; 132(9): 2845S - 2850. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. Dary and J. O. Mora Food Fortification to Reduce Vitamin A Deficiency: International Vitamin A Consultative Group Recommendations J. Nutr., September 1, 2002; 132(9): 2927S - 2933. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				U. Ramakrishnan and I. Darnton-Hill Assessment and Control of Vitamin A Deficiency Disorders J. Nutr., September 1, 2002; 132(9): 2947S - 2953. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]