High dose of vitamin A supplementation is a proven means of controlling xerophthalmia, prevents nutritional blindness and reduce severity and case-fatality rate of childhood infections such as measles and diarrhea. Vitamin A plays an important role in the formation of the surface layers of cells covering the skin and mucous surfaces within the body’s organs and tissues including the lining of blood vessels. Vitamin A was found to be important in the mucosal production of lysozyme and in maintaining normal phagocyte sages, sinuses, ears, mastoids, periodontal tissues and tongue. It also plays in the production of sperm and bone formation. It is known to support fetal development and regulation of proliferation and differentiation of many types of cells throughout life. Vitamin A is also responsible for stronger immune response to infection and is essential to taste, hearing and appetite. It also has an important function in preventing infections in the lower respiratory, gastrointestinal and urinary tracts. Vitamin A is also known to be a critical nutrient for healthy skin.
Appropriate doses of vitamin A
Depending on the vitamin A content of the diet and rate of utilization of the body, adequate protection can be achieved by smaller frequent doses of 10 000 IU once a week or 50 000 IU once a month. The average daily amount of vitamin A that should be ingested by healthy individuals varies with age, body mass, metabolic activity and special conditions of pregnancy or lactation. Fetal malformations may occur when pregnant women take megadoses of vitamin A.
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