Benefits of Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a micronutrient that helps protect epithelial tissues, such as the cornea of ​​the eye, skin epithelium, mucous membranes of the trachea, small intestine, and secretory glands. When vitamin A is deficient, the epithelial tissues and mucous membranes are damaged. Damage to the cornea of ​​the eye can lead to blindness.

Vitamin A strengthens the body's immune system. For young children, vitamin A helps them grow and develop normally.

Vitamin A deficiency in children can lead to stunted growth, reduced immunity to disease, and increased susceptibility to severe infections, particularly measles, diarrhea, and respiratory infections, which can increase the risk of death in young children.

Individuals susceptible to vitamin A deficiency

- Children under 3 years old are susceptible to vitamin A deficiency because they are growing rapidly and need more vitamin A. At this age, due to changes in feeding habits (complementary feeding, weaning) and increased susceptibility to infections, they are at risk of vitamin A deficiency.

- Children under 5 years old are susceptible to measles, acute respiratory infections, prolonged diarrhea, and severe malnutrition, thus putting them at risk of vitamin A deficiency.

- If a breastfeeding mother, especially during the first year, has a diet deficient in vitamin A, her breast milk will also be deficient in vitamin A, leading to vitamin A deficiency in her child.

- Children who are not breastfed have a higher risk of vitamin A deficiency.

To prevent and combat vitamin A deficiency, we should:

- Meals should provide sufficient nutrients and Vitamin A; this is considered a long-term solution to address Vitamin A deficiency problems.

- Meals should include oil or fat to help with the absorption of Vitamin A. Plant-based foods such as green vegetables, carrots, spinach, mangoes, watermelons, ripe papayas, tomatoes, gac fruit... and ripe fruits with yellow, red, and orange colors contain high levels of beta-carotene, which is converted into Vitamin A in the body.

- Breastfeeding: Breast milk is the best source of Vitamin A for infants. Breastfeed early, within the first hour after birth, to take advantage of the precious colostrum, which is rich in Vitamin A and antibodies that help protect infants against pathogens. Also, breastfeed exclusively for the first six months. At six months, introduce complementary foods appropriately and continue breastfeeding until 24 months of age.

It is important to note that children aged 6 months to under 36 months should receive Vitamin A supplementation twice a year according to the prescribed dosage and schedule at commune/ward health stations throughout the province.

Department of Health Education and Communication  

Source: https://yte.nghean.gov.vn/tin-chuyen-nganh/loi-ich-cua-vitamin-a-1020873