THE ROLE OF VITAMIN-A IN REDUCING CHILD-M ORTALITY AND MORBIDITY AND IMPROVING GROWTH

This is an update of knowledge on the role of the vitamin A status in determining child mortality, morbidity and growth. Recent information confirms the earlier conclusion of Beaten et al. that a 23% reduction in young child mortality results following improvements in the vitamin A status. Studies show that the mortality effect is primarily due to reductions in deaths due to acute gastroenteritis and measles but not acute respiratory infections (ARI) and malaria. While improvement of t he vitamin A status enhances the survival of older preschool children, it remains unclear whether it benefits infants (i.e. <6 months). Vita min A supplementation does not reduce the overall incidence and preval ence of common childhood illness; however, it reduces the incidence of more severe episodes of diarrhea, Also, vitamin A supplementation eit her during and/or immediately after the illness does not improve its s ymptomatology. Finally contrary to earlier expectations, recently comp leted, placebo-controlled randomized interventions have failed to dete ct improvements in child growth.