scholarly journals The necessity for Zambia's vitamin A sugar fortification requirement

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 1-32
Author(s):  
Hilda Thopacu
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin A ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Consumption Pattern ◽  
Regulatory Regime ◽  
Maternal Deaths ◽  
Foreign Products ◽  
Expectant Mothers ◽  
Maize Meal ◽  
Technical Barrier To Trade

Zambia faces a serious vitamin A deficiency (VAD) that affects most infants and expectant mothers, leading to night blindness, maternal deaths, and more. One of the efforts to address this is by permitting only the manufacture, sale, or import of household consumption sugar which is fortified with vitamin A - which is seen as a disguised restriction on international trade. Through a desk-top research study, the article examines the question, as to what extent Zambia's fortification requirement complies with the necessity principle in the Technical Barrier to Trade Annex to the Southern African Development Community Protocol on Trade (TBT Annex) and Article 2(2) of the World Trade Organization's Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement). The research finds that the measure is a technical regulation with a legitimate objective to protect the health and lives of a target VAD Zambian population. Further, it is applied to both domestic and like foreign products; therefore, it is neither discriminatory nor directly linked to the lack of competitive opportunities for like foreign products. Even if fortified maize meal could be opted for instead of sugar, it cannot achieve the equivalent contribution in dealing with the VAD problem because of challenges, such as, the uncertainty in regulatory regime, and its irregular consumption pattern. Consequently, the sugar fortification requirement is not more trade restrictive than necessary under the TBT Annex and Article 2(2) of the TBT Agreement.

scholarly journals Nutritional enhancement of Ghanaian weaning foods using the orange flesh sweetpotato (Ipomea batatas)

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (65) ◽  
pp. 9236-9256
Author(s):  
EA Bonsi ◽  
◽  
WA Plahar ◽  
R Zabawa ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin A ◽  
Sweet Potato ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Consumer Acceptability ◽  
Weaning Food ◽  
Nutrient Density ◽  
Weaning Foods ◽  
Maize Meal ◽  
Β Carotene

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a public health problem in Ghana. Research on the orange flesh sweet potato root has been given prominence because of its high β - carotene content as a means to enhance the nutritive value and vitamin A content of the traditional diets of Ghanaian children as a long -term intervention towards combating VAD. Two Ghanaian cereal -legume weaning foods: roasted maize- soy blend and fermented maize -soy blend were added to Orange Flesh Sweet potato (O FS) flour from the variety, Beauregard, to develop four weaning food formulations . To each product formulation preparation, 25% and 50% OFS flour was added to the basic cereal - legume meals , and mixed thoroughly. The four weaning formulations were evaluated for chemical composition, sensory characteristics and consumer acceptability. All samples had a range of protein (12.1% - 15%), fat (4.8% - 6.4%), carbohydrate (71.1% – 75.1%), energy (380 - 390 kcal/100g) and minerals (calcium, iron and phosphorus) to ensure good nutrient density, while the moisture content was low (5.3% - 6.1%) for storage stability. The contribution of β -carotene ( 55.18 –115.55 ug/g) by the OFS in the formulations further enhanced the nutritive value of all the blends and is enough to meet the daily β -carotene needs of the children ( 1-6 yrs of 400 -450ug/100g). A higher level of β -carotene was seen in the roasted maize meal weaning foods which make s them a better potential blend for combating VAD. Also, sensory evaluation of the products indicated the highest consumer acceptability score (87%) for the roasted maize meal porridge formulation containing 25% OFS . It is, therefore , concluded that OFS flour has the potential to be used at 25% replacement level in the soy- fortified roasted maize meal formulation, and OFS is a useful ingredient with the potential to improve the β -carotene or vitamin A content of such formulations . This will help alleviate vitamin A deficiency of children in Ghana and other countries with similar problems . It is , therefore, recommended that the orange flesh sweet potato flour be used by mothers as an entry point for enhancing the traditional weaning food preparations .

scholarly journals Maize meal fortification is associated with improved vitamin A and iron status in adolescents and reduced childhood anaemia in a food aid-dependent refugee population

2008 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 720-728 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Seal ◽  
Emmanuel Kafwembe ◽  
Ismail AR Kassim ◽  
Mei Hong ◽  
Annie Wesley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin A ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Iron Status ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Refugee Camp ◽  
Food Aid ◽  
Serum Retinol ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Vitamin A Status ◽  
Maize Meal

AbstractObjectiveTo assess changes in the Fe and vitamin A status of the population of Nangweshi refugee camp associated with the introduction of maize meal fortification.DesignPre- and post-intervention study using a longitudinal cohort.SettingNangweshi refugee camp, Zambia.SubjectsTwo hundred and twelve adolescents (10–19 years), 157 children (6–59 months) and 118 women (20–49 years) were selected at random by household survey in July 2003 and followed up after 12 months.ResultsMaize grain was milled and fortified in two custom-designed mills installed at a central location in the camp and a daily ration of 400 g per person was distributed twice monthly to households as part of the routine food aid ration. During the intervention period mean Hb increased in children (0·87 g/dl;P< 0·001) and adolescents (0·24 g/dl;P= 0·043) but did not increase in women. Anaemia decreased in children by 23·4 % (P< 0·001) but there was no significant change in adolescents or women. Serum transferrin receptor (log10-transformed) decreased by −0·082 μg/ml (P= 0·036) indicating an improvement in the Fe status of adolescents but there was no significant decrease in the prevalence of deficiency (−8·5 %;P= 0·079). In adolescents, serum retinol increased by 0·16 μmol/l (P< 0·001) and vitamin A deficiency decreased by 26·1 % (P< 0·001).ConclusionsThe introduction of fortified maize meal led to a decrease in anaemia in children and a decrease in vitamin A deficiency in adolescents. Centralised, camp-level milling and fortification of maize meal is a feasible and pertinent intervention in food aid operations.

scholarly journals Stability of Vitamin A in Nigerian Retailed Biscuits

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 96
Author(s):  
Florence Uchendu ◽  
Oyediran Oyewole
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin A ◽  
School Children ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Consumption Pattern ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Fortified Flour

Vitamin A deficiency is a major public health problem affecting poor populations in developing countries. Biscuits baked with Nigerian vitamin A fortified flour (30 IU/g) have been consumed by pre-school children. This study aims at determining vitamin A content and stability in retailed biscuits at point of consumption. Pre-tested, semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect biscuit consumption pattern of pre-school children (n=1600). Out of 18 brands of biscuits reported, eight cartons of 8 commonly consumed brands were purchased from major markets in Lagos. Vitamin A (retinol) stability was determined by storing biscuit samples for 30 days. Pre- and post-storage retinol analyses were carried out using high performance liquid chromatography. Vitamin A stability was calculated as percentage of initial vitamin A biscuit values. Crunchiness and packaging of biscuit samples were also assessed. Data were analysed using descriptive and T-test at p&lt;0.05. At pre-storage level, 62.5 % and 37.5 % samples had vitamin A and zero contents respectively. At post-storage, 25% had vitamin A content while 75% had zero content. Pre- and post-storage vitamin A content of samples was 5.2&plusmn;4.9 IU/g and 1.9&plusmn;1.8 IU/g. Mean vitamin A stability and loss in retailed biscuits at 2 months was 16.8% and 83.2% respectively. A significant difference was found in vitamin A content and stability of biscuits at pre- and post-storage levels. Biscuits lost crunchiness at post-storage level. Vitamin A content of retailed biscuit samples was below 30 IU/g resulting in very low stability. Use of fortified quality raw materials and compliance are essential.

scholarly journals Preparation of a Weaning Food Through Enrichment of Maize Meal with Potatoes (Ipomea batatas) Also Known as Orange Fleshed Sweet Potatoes (OFSP)

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (8) ◽  
pp. 183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Mutuku ◽  
MW Mwaniki ◽  
GW Muiruri
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin A ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Carotenoid Content ◽  
Composite Flour ◽  
Dietary Recommendations ◽  
Weaning Food ◽  
Sweet Potatoes ◽  
Vitamin A Supplementation ◽  
Maize Meal

Background: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and xerophthalmia is prevalent and contribute to morbidity and mortality especially in young children in developing countries. Vitamin A deficiency contributes up to 23% lives lost in children aged 6 to 59 months. Thanks to huge requirements in children aged less than 59 months, vitamin A supplementation has been adopted by countries with support from UNICEF and other development partners. Without vitamin A supplementation a typical child in a developing country is not able to attain and maintain the minimally adequate liver retinol stores [Children are vitamin A deficient with liver retinol stores <20 µg/dL (<0.693 µmol/L)]. However, vitamin A supplementation has faced a number of challenges which creates an avenue for other intervention strategies. Dietary diversity is important. Beta carotene is converted to retinol on a function of 1:2, therefore children would have to eat tenfold increase in portion sizes of fruits and vegetables. Food fortification and enrichment of a specific meal that provides the necessary dietary recommendations of the child in less than three food servings that would provide the necessary nutritional requirements at a low cost therefore making it valuable in developing countries.Methods: Four OFSP varieties were procured from Embu in Kenya. The weaning food consisted of 20% maize (white) meal and 100% OFSP. Analysis was done on the composite flour and maize meal for pro-vitamin A. OFSP composite flour samples were analysed for pro vitamin A and comoared with recomended dietary allowance for children 6 to 59 months. The β-carotene nutrient retention of the weaning food was also calculated.Results: two OFSP varieties had the highest pro vitamin A carotenoid content: Tauing (57.10 mg/kg) and Haspot (51.70 mg/kg). Addition of white maize meal was important to improve gelatinization during preparation. One kilogram of maize meal enriched with Tauing variety of sweet potatoes is estimated to contain 50.88 mg/kg pro vitamin A carotenoid .Conclusion: white maize meal enriched with 80% OFSP is estimated to increase pro vitamin A carotenoid intake in children aged 6 to 59 months, contributing to a reduction in vitamin A deficiency in rural households.Keywords: Xerophthalmia; retinol; RDA; Pro-vitamin A carotenoid, weaning food.

Quantification of Vitamin A in Fortified Rapeseed, Groundnut and Soya Oils Using a Simple Portable Device: Comparison to High Performance Liquid Chromatography

2013 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cécile Renaud ◽  
Jacques Berger ◽  
Arnaud Laillou ◽  
Sylvie Avallone
Keyword(s):  
High Performance Liquid Chromatography ◽  
Liquid Chromatography ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Portable Device ◽  
Least Developed Countries ◽  
Control Food ◽  
Assay Precision

Vitamin A deficiency is still one of the major public health problems in least developed countries. Fortification of vegetable oils is a strategy implemented worldwide to prevent this deficiency. For a fortification program to be effective, regular monitoring is necessary to control food quality in the producing units. The reference methods for vitamin A quantification are expensive and time-consuming. A rapid method should be useful for regular assessment of vitamin A in the oil industry. A portable device was compared to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for three plant oils (rapeseed, groundnut, and soya). The device presented a good linearity from 3 to 30 mg retinol equivalents per kg (mg RE.kg- 1). Its limits of detection and quantification were 3 mg RE.kg- 1 for groundnut and rapeseed oils and 4 mg RE.kg- 1 for soya oil. The intra-assay precision ranged from 1.48 % to 3.98 %, considered satisfactory. Accuracy estimated by the root mean squares error ranged from 3.99 to 5.49 and revealed a lower precision than HPLC (0.4 to 2.25). Although it offers less precision than HPLC, the device estimates quickly the vitamin A content of the tested oils from 3 or 4 to 15 mg RE.kg- 1.

Research Recommendations for Applying Vitamin A-Labelled Isotope Dilution Techniques to Improve Human Vitamin A Nutrition

2014 ◽  
Vol 84 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 52-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherry A. Tanumihardjo ◽  
Anura V. Kurpad ◽  
Janet R. Hunt
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
The Body ◽  
Pool Size ◽  
Serum Retinol ◽  
Vitamin A Status ◽  
Status Assessment ◽  
Total Body

The current use of serum retinol concentrations as a measurement of subclinical vitamin A deficiency is unsatisfactory for many reasons. The best technique available for vitamin A status assessment in humans is the measurement of total body pool size. Pool size is measured by the administration of retinol labelled with stable isotopes of carbon or hydrogen that are safe for human subjects, with subsequent measurement of the dilution of the labelled retinol within the body pool. However, the isotope techniques are time-consuming, technically challenging, and relatively expensive. There is also a need to assess different types of tracers and doses, and to establish clear guidelines for the use and interpretation of this method in different populations. Field-friendly improvements are desirable to encourage the application of this technique in developing countries where the need is greatest for monitoring the risk of vitamin A deficiency, the effectiveness of public health interventions, and the potential of hypervitaminosis due to combined supplement and fortification programs. These techniques should be applied to validate other less technical methods of assessing vitamin A deficiency. Another area of public health relevance for this technique is to understand the bioconversion of β-carotene to vitamin A, and its relation to existing vitamin A status, for future dietary diversification programs.

Vitamin A deficiency is associated with disease severity in patients with liver cirrhosis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Nagel ◽  
C Labenz ◽  
M Nguyen-Tat ◽  
N Cabezas Wallscheid ◽  
C Czauderna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
Disease Severity ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency

Mitral Valve Replacement in an Adult with Left Pulmonary Agenesis

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 109
Author(s):  
Huseyin Saskin ◽  
Mustafa Idiz ◽  
Cagri Duzyol ◽  
Huseyin Macika ◽  
Rezan Aksoy
Keyword(s):  
Mitral Valve ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
Valve Replacement ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Pulmonary Agenesis ◽  
Pulmonary Vessels ◽  
Live Births ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Female Predominance

Pulmonary agenesis is associated with the absence of pulmonary vessels, bronchi, or parenchyma. This condition usually occurs between the 4th and 5th week of gestation during the embryonic phase. Etiopathogenic factors associated with pulmonary agenesis are not fully understood. In the literature, genetic and teratogenic factors, viral infections, and vitamin-A deficiency are shown to be associated with pulmonary agenesis [Malcon 2012]. This condition may be seen unilaterally or bilaterally. Although the precise rate of incidence is unknown, it is estimated to occur in one of every 10,000 to 12,000 live births [Yetim 2011]. There is a 1.3:1 female predominance with unilateral agenesis [Halilbasic 2013]

Retinol, α-Tocopherol and Vitamin D3 in White MuscleDisease

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 6029-2018
Author(s):  
HANDAN MERT ◽  
SERKAN YİLDİRİM ◽  
IBRAHİM HAKKİ YORUK ◽  
KİVANC IRAK ◽  
BAHAT COMBA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin A ◽  
Vitamin D3 ◽  
White Muscle ◽  
Bone Structure ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency ◽  
Muscle Disease ◽  
Control Group ◽  
White Muscle Disease ◽  
Fat Soluble Vitamins

Vitamins are essential for the health of all living organisms. Vitamins E, A, D and K are known as fat-soluble vitamins, and deprivation of vitamin E causes various disorders, especially in the reproduction and cardiovascular systems and in muscle functions. Vitamin A, on the other hand, has roles in various biological functions – like eyesight – and the growth, reproduction and differentiation of epithelial cells. Vitamin A deficiency leads to the keratinization of the epithelium, and disorders related to the metaplasies of the genital and genitourinary systems. Conversely, vitamin D is defined as a pro-hormone and is responsible for Cahomeostasis, and thus indirectly affects the bone metabolism, bone structure, and cellular and neural functions of Ca. White muscle disease (WMD) can occur in newborn lambs, but is more commonly seen in lambs of up to 3 months of age. In this study, 30 lambs of 3 to 50-days-old from different flocks diagnosed with White Muscle Disease (WMD) were selected as research material, while the control group consisted of 8 healthy lambs. With the aim of clarifying the cause of WMD, serum fat-soluble vitamins, retinol, α-tocopherol and vitamin D3 levels were determined in 16 lambs. Gluteal and heart musclet issue samples also were taken from 30 lambs with WMD. The vitamin levels of the samples were analysed by HPLC. The levels of serum α-tocopherol, retinols, and vitamin D3 were foundto be low in the diseased animals, but only retinol (p<0.001) and α-tocopherol (p<0.0011) level differences were statistically relevant. Macroscopically, Zenker’s necrosis was determined in the heart muscles of 17 lambs, and in the gluteal and chest muscles of 6 lambs. 7 lambs displayed necrosis in both their heart and in gluteal muscles. The samples were analyzed microscopically to reach similar findings: swollen homogeneous pink muscles, pycnotic nuclei, and hyperaemic and haemorrhagic blood vessels in gluteal, chest and heart muscles. Hyaline degeneration and Zenker's necrosis, dystrophic regions in necrotic areas, cc was detected as a severe disease in lambs at an early stage of life with advanced degeneration in different muscle tissues. Deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins was also detected in the sick animals. Control group lambs had higher levels of α tocopherol and retinol (p<0.001) compared to the sick lambs. .

Prevalence of iron deficiency and its association with vitamin A deficiency in preschool children

2005 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan S. Ferraz ◽  
Júlio C. Daneluzzi ◽  
Hélio Vannucchi ◽  
Alceu A. Jordão Jr. ◽  
Rubens G. Ricco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preschool Children ◽  
Iron Deficiency ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
Vitamin A Deficiency
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