Based on the Expanded National Nutrition Survey of 2018, Vitamin A deficiency was considered a “moderate” public health concern among children 6 months - 5 years old. In terms of a single age group, it is most severe among 1 year old children. Vitamin A is needed for vision, skin health, and the immune system of children. Inadequate dietary intake of this vitamin may lead to blindness, increased risk of having respiratory infections and diarrhea and anemia because when Vitamin A is low, body stores of iron are poorly mobilized for making red blood cells. The primary prevention of Vitamin A deficiency is through the intake of Vitamin A rich foods such as:

● Yellow or Orange Fruits and Vegetables: Mango, Papaya, Carrots, Squash
● Some Green Vegetables: Malunggay, Kamote Tops, Kangkong, ALugbati, Saluyot
● Animal Sources: Egg, Chicken Liver
● Processed foods: Fortified milk, Cheese

Other strategies that can help address Vitamin A deficiency are the Food Fortification Program and Vitamin A Supplementation. The Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000 refers to the mandatory fortification of staple food items such as rice, flour, sugar and oil and voluntary fortification of processed foods such as noodles and snack foods with iron and Vitamin A. Look for the Sangkap Pinoy Seal when looking for fortified food items.

Vitamin A Supplementation is part of the Garantisadong Pambata program by the Department of Health. A specific dosage of Vitamin A in the form of liquid drops given by mouth are given to children 6 - 59 months old. Lactating mothers are also included because they are also at risk of developing Vitamin A deficiency after labor. The recommended dosage and schedule are as follows:

1. Children: Every 6 months for 6 - 59 months preschoolers
● 100,000 IU for children 6 - 11 months old
● 200,000 IU for children 12 - 59 months old

2. Lactating mothers
● 200,000 IU for breastfeeding mothers within 1 month of delivery. It has been shown that Vitamin A supplementation helps regain body stores of Vitamin A in children who had chronic or repeated infections such as persistent diarrhea, measles, severe pneumonia and those who are severely underweight. It also helps protect against infection and reduce complications of measles. For breastfeeding mothers, Vitamin A supplementation helps elevate Vitamin A concentration in their breast milk thus improving the VItamin A status of their breastfed child.

Vitamin A drops or supplements are given freely in our health centers. Visit your nearest health center for more information and for other nutrition and growth monitoring services for your child.

/AET

References:

Department of Science and Technology, Food and Nutrition Research Institute (2020). Expanded National Nutrition Survey: Vitamin A Status Dissemination Forum.

Department of Health. (n.d.) Vitamin A Deficiency in Philippine Health Advisories. Pages 100 - 101.