Controversies continue: Universal supplementation of megadose of vitamin A to young children in India

Abstract

The universal megadose of vitamin A (MDVA) supplementation program was started in the year 1970. The program is presently in continuation for the prevention of nutritional blindness and possibly reduction in under-five mortality rate (U5MR). Presently, blindness due to vitamin A deficiency (VAD) has disappeared and the difference between U5MR and infant mortality rate (IMR) is less than 10 thus MDVA is unlikely to have any impact on mortality. The continuation of universal MDVA needs to be modified based on the current scientific evidence.

Keywords

• India
• nutritional blindness
• under-five mortality rate (U5MR)
• vitamin A deficiency (VAD)