Vitamin A Deficiency Health, Survival, and Vision

Many studies over the past decade and a half have indicated that vitamin A status is an important determinant of health. The World Bank now estimates that vitamin A intervention programs are some of the most cost-effective health strategies globally. This new book, written by leading investigators in the field, is the first to synthesize the many important studies to date. The authors identify and quantify the biological, clinical and public health impact of vitamin A deficiency on childhood growth, mortality and morbidity, including anemia and blindness. They deal with the epidemiologic and biological basis of these findings, and with the prevention and treatment of these disorders, particularly of measles, diarrhea and xeorophthalmia. Alternative approaches to identifying individuals and populations in need of intervention, alternative strategies for improving vitamin A and carotenoids, and the relationship between vitamin A and immunity are discussed. This comprehensive volume on a critically important and widespread nutritional deficiency will serve as a unique resource for nutritionists, physicians, public health workers and policy makers, and will be especially relevant to clinicians and researchers in international health.

I: Introduction 1. Background II: Consequences of Vitamin A Deficiency 2. Child Survival 3. Infectious Morbidity 4. Xerophthalmia and Keratomalacia 5. Anemia and Iron Metabolism 6. Growth III: Mechanisms 7. Contributory and Precipitating Events 8. Biochemistry of Vitamin A and Carotenoids 9. The Relationship between Immunocompetence and Vitamin A Status IV: Treatment 10. Treatment of Vitamin A Deficiency and Xerophthalmia V: Assessment and Prevention 11 Ic Assessment of Vitamin A Status. 12. Epidemiology of Deficiency 13. Dietary Intervention 14. Supplementation 15. Fortification of Dietary Items with Vitamin A