The National Vitamin A Supplementation Program and Subclinical Vitamin A Deficiency among Preschool Children in the Philippines

Abstract

The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (serum retinol [SR] < 20 microg/dl) in children from one to five years of age in the Philippines rose from 35.8% to 38% between 1993 and 1998, despite a twice-yearly universal vitamin A capsule distribution program. The Philippines 1998 National Nutrition Survey, with one-time SR measurements from 11,620 children from one to four years of age, collected over an eight-month period from one month to more than six months after distribution of vitamin A capsules, was an opportunity to examine the impact of the program on the children's vitamin A status, using post hoc analysis. Overall, a detectable impact of vitamin A capsules on SR was limited to groups with the highest prevalence of vitamin A deficiency and lasted up to four months after dose administration. In highly urban cities in Visayas, where very high prevalences of deficient SR (SR < 10 microg/dl) were found, the prevalence of deficient SR was reduced from 27% to 9% one to two months after distribution of vitamin A capsules, and to 16% at three to four months. In Mindanao, a statistically significant reduction from 38% to 32% was seen in the prevalence of deficient to low SR (SR < 20 microg/dl) one to four months after distribution of vitamin A capsules. There was no overall reduction in the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency or deficient and low SR (SR < 20 microg/dl) in Luzon, but a significant interaction with stunting was observed in Luzon non-highly urbanized cities. Two aspects are of concern. First, the magnitude of the effect of high-dose vitamin A capsules on SR, and hence on the extent of reduction in deficiency, is limited. Second, the effect does not persist for six months, which is the interval between doses. Thus there is no decrease in the prevalence of deficiency over time. With more frequent dosing (especially to those most deficient in SR), a progressive reduction in vitamin A deficiency could, however, be expected; this hypothesis could be tested. The policy implication arising from these results is that a shift in resources is warranted. In areas of low prevalence of vitamin A deficiency, distribution of vitamin A capsules should be targeted to stunted children. In areas of high prevalence, vitamin A capsules should be distributed to children one to five years old at least three times a year.

The use and interpretation of serum retinol distributions in evaluating the public health impact of vitamin A programmes

“…3) and India (Fig. 4) were consistent with a return toward baseline status by the second contact, 2 to 3 months following VA supplement receipt (31,32,34,35) . Table 3 summarizes reports on the response of SROL concentrations to consumption of VA-fortified food products.…”

“…Interestingly, although ,40 % of children had low SROL at both contacts, none tested positive for low liver stores (29) . Of the remaining five studies listed in Table 2, all showed an initial rightward shift in the SROL distribution and a roughly 25 % (mean, weighted by study size) decrease in the proportion of deficient children (SROL , 0?70 mmol/l) in the first 2 months post-dosing (31)(32)(33)(34)(35) . SROL concentrations measured at later time points in Mexico, the Philippines (Fig.…”

Can an Integrated Approach Reduce Child Vulnerability to Anaemia? Evidence from Three African Countries

“…Stunted children respond in different ways than non-stunted children to interventions; the duration of benefit from combined vitamin A supplementation and deworming was less in stunted children [37]. In the Philippines, improved retinol levels persisted for a much shorter time among stunted compared to non-stunted children [38]. These results suggest that the level of buffering that health and nutrition interventions have on child vulnerability may vary based on the factors underlying child stunting.…”

Utilization of vitamin A supplementation services in high priority districts of Bihar

“…4 Experiences in Philippines, Bangladesh and South African countries show that high dose VAS is an effective short term means to combat VAD in developing countries. [5][6][7] However, the approaches vary, some using capsules, others VA solutions and some targeted towards high risk groups only.…”