|
Vitamin A is essential for maintaining normal vision, gene expression, reproduction, embryonic development, growth and immune function. Deficiency in vitamin A, could lead to eye disease and blindness, an increase rate of infection and greater severity of measles and diarrhoeal disease in children.
This study estimates the burden of disease attributable to vitamin A deficiency in children aged 0-4 years of age and pregnant women 15-49 years of age in South Africa in 2000 using the comparative risk assessment methodology developed by the WHO. View the results. (pdf format, 259 kb)
Serum concentrations below 20 µg/d (0.70 µmol/) are conventionally used to indicate inadequate status to vitamin A, and serum retinol concentrations below 10 µg/dl (0.35 µmol/l) may be associated with ocular signs of vitamin A deficiency.
Read more about research and policy on vitamin A deficiency in South Africa. |
