Proposed vitamin a fortification levels.

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Public Health
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Vitamin A deficiency is a significant concern in young children, particularly in Latin America where premature weaning is common.
• Breast milk is a good source of vitamin A, but weaned children rely entirely on complementary foods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose vitamin A fortification levels for complementary foods for children aged 6-23 months.
• To address the vitamin A intake gap in both breast-fed and weaned infants and young children.

Main Methods:

• Estimating the vitamin A gap based on recommended daily intake (RDI) and average milk intake.
• Calculating fortification levels needed to meet the RDI for weaned children and supplement breast-fed children.
• Assessing the impact of a proposed fortified food on vitamin A intake.

Main Results:

• The estimated vitamin A gap for breast-fed infants (6-11 months) is 63-92 µg RE (16-23% RDI).
• Weaned infants and children require the full RDI (400 µg RE) from complementary foods.
• A fortified food (500 µg RE/100g) in daily rations of 40g or 60g effectively addresses the vitamin A gap for various age groups without exceeding safe intake levels.

Conclusions:

• Vitamin A fortification of complementary foods is a viable strategy to combat deficiencies in young children.
• The proposed fortification levels and product specifications can significantly improve vitamin A status in vulnerable populations.
• Targeted fortification ensures adequate intake for both breast-fed and weaned children, supporting healthy growth and development.