Efficiency of Vitamin A Supplementation in relation to Morbidity and Mortality in Children from 6 to 59 Months: An Integrative Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51473/rcmos.v1i1.2025.1113Keywords:
Vitamin A, Child mortality, Supplementation, Nutritional deficiency, Public health, Night blind-ness, Diarrhea, Measles.Abstract
Introduction: Vitamin A deficiency is one of the leading preventable causes of child morbidity and mortality in developing countries, which led to the creation of vitamin A supplementation programs. Studies show that vitamin A supplementation reduces the risk of mortality by 12%.
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of vitamin A supplementation in reducing morbidity and mortality in children aged 6 to 59 months through an integrative review of recent scientific literature. Articles published between 2020 and 2025 were selected from the PubMed, SciELO, and CAPES Journals databases using keywords such as “vitamin A deficiency,” “child mortality,” and “supplementation.” Methodology: The results indicate that high-dose vitamin A supplementation is associated with up to a 24% reduction in child mortality, particularly in cases of diarrhea, measles, and visual impairments such as night blindness. The review also highlights the risks of hypervitaminosis A, emphasizing the importance of proper dosage and supervision in public health policies. Conclusion: It is concluded that vitamin A supplementation is an effective and necessary strategy for promoting child health, especially in underdeveloped countries where access to food sources of the nutrient is limited due to geographic or financial constraints. It should be integrated with educational and nutritional actions to ensure sustainable impact.
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