The importance of Vitamin A for health

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vitamin A deficiency is one of the leading causes of blindness that can be prevented in children, especially in developing countries.In Vietnam, although the nutritional life has improved significantly, the lack of micronutrients, including vitamin A, is still common in children under 5 years old and pregnant women.

For children from 6 months to 5 years old, Vitamin A plays a particularly important role in the formation and maintenance of visual, developing the immune system and reducing the risk of infections such as diarrhea, pneumonia.Many studies show that supplementing with high -dose Vitamin A can reduce up to 24% of the risk of death due to pathology in this group of children.

Dr. Do Thi Ngoc Diep - Vice Chairman of Vietnam Nutrition Association emphasized: "Vitamin A not only helps children brighten the eyes but also helps protect the entire natural fence of the body against bacteria and viruses".

From teenagers to adulthood, vitamin A continues to support cell regeneration, especially skin, respiratory and digestive mucosa.This is also a powerful antioxidant that helps protect the body from aging agents and cancer.

In people from 40 to 60 years old, the demand for vitamin A can be slightly reduced but still needed to maintain vision function, especially in the prevention of degenerative and dry degenerative diseases.A poor diet of Vitamin A can cause the body to weaken the ability to recover after the disease, reduce resistance.

Vitamin A source can come from animal foods such as liver, eggs, milk, fatty fish; Or in the form of pre-vitamin A (beta-carotene) from red, yellow, orange vegetables such as carrots, Gac, pumpkin, mango.However, experts also recommend that they do not arbitrarily supplement with high doses of vitamin A but need medical instructions, because if the excess can cause poisoning.

The Ministry of Health of Vietnam still maintains a regular high -dose Vitamin A supplement for children under 5 years old in June and December every year as a strategic prevention measure.