Food-Based Strategies to Control Vitamin A Deficiency

Vitamin A deficiency is still considered a major nutritional problem in the developing world. Increasing evidence of the role of vitamin A in the control of both morbidity and mortality is a point of great concern. Vitamin A supplementation began several years ago, and it still continues in many countries. However, there is a gradual realization that one of the most effective and sustainable ways to overcome vitamin A deficiency is through food-based strategies, which become a way of life. the most effective way to achieve this is by the following methods, in order of priority: dietary diversification (food supplementation, horticultural interventions, management of proper distribution, and availability of vitamin A–rich foods), nutrition education on all issues related to vitamin A (e.g., sources of vitamin A, importance of and need for vitamin A, methods of obtaining vitamin A–rich foods, and community involvement and participation in the process), and food fortification (identification of foods that can be fortified, development of proper cost-effective methods taking into account local food tastes and availability, and development of a mechanism to reach the most needy). This paper summarizes various case studies to ascertain the effectiveness of the different approaches.