HYDERABAD: Nutrition experts have known for a policy shift at the federal level on vitamin A supplementation,” saying that vitamin A deficiencies in kids are not a public health issue in India.
They contended that vitamin A supplementation can lead to excessive dose of Vitamin A or hypervitaminosis.
Researchers in the city-based National Institute of Nutrition, St John’s Research Institute, Bangalore, along with Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research, New Delhi, warned of a possible threat of hypervitaminosis.
In their research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, investigators assessed if vitamin A deficiencies presented a significant public health issue among children under five decades old.
The analysis implies that the national incidence of vitamin A lack risk is under 20 percent in children from India.
“It is high time that the mega-dose of vitamin A is revised along with a concentrated state-based vitamin A supplementation plan has been consumed,” it states.
The research drew the sample of this Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey that was conducted in 30 countries during 2016-2018, stated NIN manager Hemalatha R.”The poll revealed that vitamin A deficiency according to serum retinol levels was 15.7percent among 1-5-year-old kids across India, lower compared to the 20 percent mark which defines a significant public health issue”, she explained.
There were several children (as low as 0.4percent ) with reduced serum retinol values where serious medical issues are most likely to manifest.