Food sources of vitamin A are abundant in Western and developed countries, but in parts of the globe where poverty is widespread and access to a variety of food is limited, vitamin A deficiency is a real problem. Nepal is one of those places. Government and international programs are trying to remedy the situation of the 3 million children who do not get enough vitamin A.
Importance of Vitamin A
Vitamin A is important for bone growth, reproduction, cell division and vision. It is crucial for the immune system, the urinary, intestinal and respiratory tracts and helps grow surface linings for the eyes. Plants contain one type of vitamin A; animals have another. Preformed vitamin A — retinol — found in animal sources like whole milk and liver, is easy for the body to use. Vitamin A from plant foods is converted to retinol in the body. Good vegetable sources of vitamin A include sweet potatoes, spinach, carrots and cantaloupe. Many breakfast cereals are also fortified with vitamin A.
Vitamin A Deficiency
Vitamin A deficiency can lead to immune problems and troubles with vision. Night blindness is often an early sign of the deficiency. Every year, about a half-million children go blind in the 70 countries that suffer from lack of vitamin A. Many more die due to a compromised immune system. A less severe lack of vitamin A, when the body doesn’t store enough, may not cause obvious symptoms but can decrease a child’s likelihood to survive, if serious illness strikes.
The Vegetarian Nepalese Diet
Many Nepalese are vegetarians not by choice but due to economics. The national dish is called “dal bhat” and consists of lentils with steamed rice. People eat dal bhat tarkari when it is available, which means the meal also includes curried vegetables. This dish is usually eaten twice a day, in mid-morning and in the evening. While lentils and rice offer a lot of nutrition and together form a complete protein, they do not provide vitamin A.
Programs to Distribute Vitamin A in Nepal
International groups such as USAID and UNICEF are working in Nepal to distribute vitamin A supplements to more than 3 million children. Started in 1993, the Nepal National Vitamin A Program prevents about 15,000 deaths annually in Nepal, according to USAID. USAID has trained 40,000 women as community health volunteers who distribute vitamin A capsules to 98 percent of Nepal’s under-five population. The reason children are so vulnerable is that babies are born with barely any vitamin A. Their only source is breast milk or formula. Many pregnant women in developing countries are also low on vitamin A so are unable to pass much to their babies. Other programs in Nepal focus on maternal health, including providing mothers with vitamin supplements.
References
- USAID: Vitamin A Distribution Saves Lives In Nepal
- UNICEF: National Vitamin A Programme - Nepal
- Biotech Info: Vitamin A Deficiency Disorders: Origins of the Problem and Approaches to Its Control
- Office of Dietary Supplements: National Institutes of Health: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin A and Carotenoids
- iFood: Dal Bhat
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