Vitamin A is a yellow fat-soluble crystal that can be evenly distributed in oil. Our body simply absorbs vitamin A in the presence of oil. It is unstable when it is exposed to UV light, air, and heat. Vitamin A is an essential nutrient for normal growth. It functions for good vision, embryonic development, immune response, spermatogenesis, hearing, taste, and appetite. Vitamin A deficiency can cause problems with eyesight, blindness, low resistance to infection, and increased risk of mortality. And it affects millions of children worldwide and it is the single most important cause of blindness in children in developing countries. Here in our country, it remains prevalent in pregnant, lactating women, and in children of preschool age.

Some of the important benefits of Vitamin A in humans are:

• Protects the eye from night blindness and Age-Related Decline
• Can lower the risk of certain cancers
• Supports the Immune System
• Reduce the risk of having Acne
• Supports stronger bones
• Promotes growth and development of the baby

One of the cost-effective public health interventions to help reduce the risk of Vitamin A deficiency is Food Fortification which is the addition of vitamins and minerals to some staple foods like wheat, flour, edible fats and oils, sugar, salt, and rice. Wherein, edible oils and fats are fortified with vitamins A and D which are fat-soluble vitamins. These staple foods are widely consumed by all regardless of the socioeconomic status of the population. Edible cooking oil is consumed by almost every household in the communities.

Vitamin A has greater stability in oils than in other foods. There are 5%-20% range losses during the cooking process. But Vitamin A has little or no loss during cooking or storage. Being a fat-soluble vitamin makes it easy to add to the oil and its fortification of it does not alter the flavor, taste, or color of the oil.

Fortification of oil has an impact on child health by increasing the Vitamin A intake of children and in an indirect way wherein, it also increases levels acquired by the child from the breast milk through the mother’s intake of fortified food like oil. And it also improves the overall health of pregnant and lactating women. Fortification of oil with Vitamin A is an effective way to convey Vitamin A to deficient populations in the community.

Vitamin A is very important in the body’s processes. It is vital to maintain a healthy vision, normal growth of the baby in the womb, and the normal function of organs and the immune system. A deficiency in Vitamin A has a negative effect on your health. And the best way to ensure that you get enough of this vitamin is by consuming foods high in vitamin A as part of your diet. Consuming Fortified foods like oil may also help lower the risk of Vitamin A deficiency.

PDO I Kimberly M. Tanador, RND

References:

Oil Fortification- Everything you need to Know

https://www.vilina.in/blog/oil-fortification-everything-you-need-to-know

Oil fortification

https://www.tatatrusts.org/our-work/nutrition/food-fortification/oil-fortification

Fortified Edible Oil to Improve Vitamin A Status

https://www.bioanalyt.com/oil-fortification-icheck-chroma/

Health Benefits of Vitamin A

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-a-benefits#TOC_TITLE_HDR_7