NIN study suggests India revisit Vitamin A supplementation programme
The researchers suggested that it was time to revise the mega-dosing of vitamin A and consider a targeted State-based vitamin A supplementation (VAS) programme
Hyderabad: A study by researchers of Hyderabad-based National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) has suggested that the prevalence of Vitamin A deficiency is below 20 per cent in Indian children and there is a possible risk of hypervitaminosis caused by excess intake with food fortification and supplementation.
The study, which was published recently in the prestigious American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, evaluated whether Vitamin A deficiencies still presented a serious public health problem among children below five years of age in India. The researchers suggested that it was time to revise the mega-dosing of vitamin A and consider a targeted State-based vitamin A supplementation (VAS) programme, unlike the nation-wide VAS programme being followed presently.
The study took up by NIN in collaboration with St John’s Research Institute, Bengaluru and Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research, New Delhi, said that due to country’s progress in reduction of infant and child mortality rates, immunisation coverage and almost complete decline in clinical signs of vitamin A deficiencies were seen in children.
“The study draws on the sample of the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS) which was conducted in 30 States between 2016 and 2018. The survey showed that VAD based on serum retinol levels was 15.7 per cent among 1-5 year children across the country, certainly lesser than the 20 per cent mark that defines a serious public health problem”, said Dr Hemalatha, Director of NIN.
When dietary intake, food fortification and Vitamin A supplementation are factored in, there indeed is a risk of exceeding the upper limit of intake of Vitamin A in a proportion of children particularly from higher socioeconomic status. Further, based on survival benefit analysis, we did not find any evidence of mortality benefit due to mega-dose administration throughout the country, Dr Bhanuprakash Reddy, senior scientist and lead author of the research paper at NIN said.
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