1.91 million preschoolers at-risk to infections, blindness

The 7th National Nutrition Survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) showed that 15.2 percent of Filipino children aged 6 months to 5 years or about 1.91 million have deficient to low vitamin A.

The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) dropped by 24.9 percentage points from 40.1 percent in 2003 to 15.2 percent in 2008, decreasing from a severe to moderate problem.

However, it is still considered of public health significance by the International Vitamin A Consultative Group (IVACG) standard.

This prevalence of VAD in the Philippines is higher than the average prevalence in the World Health Organization (WHO) Western-Pacific Region of 12.9 percent, but lower than the global prevalence of 33.3 percent.

The survey showed that the bulk of the vitamin A intake of preschool-age children come from milk and products, meat, fish and poultry, and eggs.

Vitamin A is needed for normal vision, growth, immunity, reproduction and red blood cell production, among others.
A person can become vitamin A-deficient if there is chronically insufficient vitamin A intake or if there is infection.

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) can lead to a series of visual impairment including nightblindness, Bitot's spot and eventually blindness, if not prevented.

People with VAD are also more prone to infections and other illnesses.

The survey showed that among children who had episodes of infection, 16.0 percent have VAD.

VAD is prevalent among children who had bouts of illnesses particularly, 39.5 percent among those who had measles, 21.9 percent among those who had diarrhea, 18.3 percent among those who had chicken pox, 17.1 percent among those who had fever, 15.8 percent among those who had tuberculosis or pulmonary cough, 14.9 percent among those who had urinary and renal tract infections and 27.4 percent among those who had other illnesses.

Several strategies have been suggested for the improvement in the vitamin A status of the population especially among preschoolers.

Among these include continued promotion of consumption of vitamin A-rich foods like liver, egg, milk and products, yellow and green leafy vegetables and vitamin A-fortified food products like oil, margarine and flour products. Strengthening food fortification advocacy and micronutrient supplementation can also help reduce VAD.

For more information on food and nutrition, contact: Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City; Tel/Fax Num: 8372934 and 8373164; email: mvc@fnri.dost.gov.ph, mar_v_c@yahoo.com; FNRI-DOST website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph. (FNRI-DOST S & T Media Service: Press Release – CHARINA A. JAVIER)