e-Library of Evidence for Nutrition Actions (eLENA)


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Vitamin A supplementation in infants and children 6–59 months of age

Intervention | Last updated: 21 May 2023

Vitamin A deficiency affects about 190 million preschool-age children, mostly from Africa and South-East Asia. In infants and children, vitamin A is essential to support rapid growth and to help combat infections. Inadequate intakes of vitamin A may lead to vitamin A deficiency which can cause visual impairment in the form of night blindness and may increase the risk of illness and death from childhood infections, including measles and those causing diarrhoea.

Vitamin A can be safely provided to children in a large dose, rather than more frequent smaller doses, as it can be stored by the body and released over time as needed.

Many countries have successfully integrated strategies to deliver vitamin A supplements to infants and children in their national health policies, including delivery during routine health visits and immunizations.

WHO Recommendations

In settings where vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem (prevalence of night blindness is 1% or higher in children 24–59 months of age or where the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (serum retinol 0.70 µmol/l or lower) is 20% or higher in infants and children 6–59 months of age), high-dose vitamin A supplementation is recommended in infants and children 6–59 months of age.

 



Evidence

Systematic reviews used to develop the guidelines

Vitamin A supplementation for preventing morbidity and mortality in children from 6 months to 5 years of age

Imdad A, Herzer K, Mayo-Wilson E, Yakoob MY, Bhutta ZA. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2010; Issue 12. Art. No.: CD008524.

Summary of this review Alternate Text

Micronutrient supplementation in children and adults with HIV infection

Irlam JH, Visser MME, Rollins NN, Siegfried N. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2010; Issue 12. Art. No.: CD003650.

Summary of this review Alternate Text

Related Cochrane reviews

Vitamin A supplementation for preventing morbidity and mortality in children from six months to five years of age

Imdad A, Mayo-Wilson E, Herzer K, Bhutta ZA.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2017, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD008524.

Summary of this review Alternate Text

Related systematic reviews

Vitamin A supplements for preventing mortality, illness, and blindness in children aged under 5: systematic review and meta-analysis

Mayo-Wilson E, Imdad A, Herzer K, Yakoob MY, Bhutta ZA. BMJ. 2011; 343 :d5094.

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Cost-effectiveness analyses

Using cost-effectiveness analysis to evaluate targeting strategies: the case of vitamin A supplementation

Loevinsohn BP, Sutter RW, Costales MO. Health Policy Plan. 1997; 12(1):29-37.

Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) regarding vitamin A in children aged less than 5 years-old in Colombia

Quitian H, Castaño N, Granados C, Gómez-Restrepo C. Rev Salud Publica (Bogota). 2014; 16(3):408-16. [Article in Spanish]

The costs and effectiveness of three vitamin A interventions in Guatemala

Phillips M, Sanghvi T, Suárez R, McKigney J, Fiedler J. Soc Sci Med. 1996; 42(12):1661-8.

Cost effectiveness analysis of strategies for child health in developing countries

Edejer TT, Aikins M, Black R, Wolfson L, Hutubessy R, Evans DB. BMJ. 2005; 331(7526):1177.

Category 1 Intervention

Guidelines have been recently approved by the WHO Guidelines Review Committee

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Essential Nutrition Actions

This intervention is an Essential Nutrition Action targeting the first 1000 days of life.

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