Interdependence of vitamin A and iron: an important association for programmes of anaemia control

Abstract

Nutritional anaemia and vitamin A deficiency are two of the most prevalent nutritional problems in the developing countries (United Nations Administrative Committee on CoordinationlSubcommittee on Nutrition, 1992). Anaemia affects over one billion people, particularly women of reproductive age and preschool children in tropical and sub-tropical zones. Over 40% of all women in developing countries are anaemic, equivalent to just over 370 million women, and at least half the anaemia worldwide is due to dietary Fe deficiency (United Nations Administrative Committee on Coordination/ Subcommittee on Nutrition, 1992). Vitamin A deficiency, defined by eye signs, has been identified as a public health problem in thirty-seven countries worldwide and an estimated 190 million children are suffering from subclinical or clinical vitamin A deficiency (Humphrey et at. 1992). Both the Montreal Meeting on Micronutrients, October 1991, and the International Conference of Nutrition in Rome, December 1992, therefore, called for all efforts to be made to eliminate deficiencies in vitamin A and Fe before the end of the decade (Food and Agriculture Organizatioflorld Health Organization, 1992). Since the study of Findlay & MacKenzie (1922), several reports have suggested an interdependence between vitamin A and Fe. This association may have many implications since sustained efficacy of Fe supplementation in programmes administered is uncommon. This is mainly due to poor compliance related to gastrointestinal sideeffects, but in areas where vitamin A deficiency is endemic Fe supplementation alone seems to be less effective than vitamin A and Fe supplementation combineq. The present paper will describe the various reports on the interdependence of vitamin A and Fe