Abstract
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 in put 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.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of Nutrition |
| Volume | 132 |
| Issue number | 9 SUPPL. |
| State | Published - Sep 2002 |
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Keywords
- Children
- Dietary intake
- Liver stores
- Vitamin A deficiency
- Vitamin A supplementation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
- Food Science
Cite this
Why do children become vitamin A deficient? / Miller, Melissa; Humphrey, Jean Hawes; Colantuoni, Elizabeth Ann; Marinda, Edmore; Brookmeyer, Ron; Katz, Joanne.
In: Journal of Nutrition, Vol. 132, No. 9 SUPPL., 09.2002.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Why do children become vitamin A deficient?
AU - Miller, Melissa
AU - Humphrey, Jean Hawes
AU - Colantuoni, Elizabeth Ann
AU - Marinda, Edmore
AU - Brookmeyer, Ron
AU - Katz, Joanne
PY - 2002/9
Y1 - 2002/9
N2 - 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 in put 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.
AB - 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 in put 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.
KW - Children
KW - Dietary intake
KW - Liver stores
KW - Vitamin A deficiency
KW - Vitamin A supplementation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036715120&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0036715120&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 12221263
AN - SCOPUS:0036715120
VL - 132
JO - Journal of Nutrition
JF - Journal of Nutrition
SN - 0022-3166
IS - 9 SUPPL.
ER -