Vitamin A deficiency – DOST-FNRI

The 2018-2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS) of the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI), verified that one out of six or 15.5% of Filipino infants and children under five years old (6 months - 5 years) are the most affected population group of vitamin A deficiency (VAD). The children in rural areas have 16.9% which was slightly higher prevalence than those in urban areas at 13.6%. Vitamin A deficiency is also common 

among children from the poorest wealth quintile (22.4%). This is considered as a “moderate” public health challenge. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), less than 10% spread of Vitamin A deficiency is considered “mild”, while 10% but less than 20% is “moderate” and 20% is “severe” public health problem.

Vitamin A is fat-soluble which supports vision under poor lighting conditions and helps maintain a healthy immune system. It is better absorbed when consumed with food that contains fats and oils. Vitamin A is vital in fetal growth and development in the mother’s womb which comes in two (2) forms: the preformed Vitamin A and the provitamin A.

One can get preformed vitamin A from meat, poultry, fish, and dairy products, while fruits, vegetables and other plant-based products can provide provitamin A. 

A diet chronically insufficient in vitamin A may result to vitamin A deficiency (VAD). Symptoms of VAD may include, among others, preventable blindness in children if detected early, impaired fetal development, increased risk of morbidity and mortality from severe infections, higher risk of respiratory infections and diarrhea.

It was also reported by the 2018-2019 ENNS that vitamin A deficient children had higher proportion of inadequate dietary intake of vitamin A, based on the estimated average requirement (EAR) compared to children with normal vitamin A status. The 

conditions of underweight, stunting and anemia were more common among vitamin A- deficient children. Among other vulnerable groups, the ENNS also revealed that VAD prevalence is of “mild” public health concern among 3.0% of pregnant women and 2.2% of lactating mothers. 

On the other hand, VAD is not a public health problem among 1.2% of non-pregnant and non-lactating women and 1.0% of the elderly.

Various government programs are in place to address VAD among Filipinos. One of which is the vitamin A capsule supplementation as part of the Micronutrient Supplementation Program of the DOH where supplemental doses of vitamin A are administered every 6 months to infants under five, these are children from 6-59 months old. This is also a part of the Garantisadong Pambata campaign conducted twice a year as catch up for under-five children who missed their vitamin A doses during the routine administration.

The provision of Micronutrient Powder (MNP) to 6-23 months old infants and young children is also in place.

The Republic Act No. 8976, or the Philippine Fortification Act of 2000 is a mandatory fortification of staple foods,voluntary fortification of processed foods and food products with essential nutrient at levels approved by the DOH.

Promotion of balanced, diverse, and healthy diet to increase vitamin A intake can also help address VAD. 

The DOST-FNRI’s Pinggang Pinoy for Healthy Filipinos serve as a quick and easy  guide in determining how much to eat per meal. https://bit.ly/FNRITechTransProtocol.