Who suffers from vitamin A deficiency?
Some 127 million preschool children are vitamin A-deficient, which is about one-quarter of all preschool children in high-risk regions of the developing world. Globally, approximately 4.4 million preschool-age children have visible eye damage due to vitamin A deficiency. Annually, between 250,000 and 500,000 preschool children go blind from this deficiency, and about two-thirds die within months of going blind. Close to 20 million pregnant women in developing countries are also vitamin A deficient, of which about one-third are clinically night-blind. Nearly one-half of these cases occur in India.

Why do we need vitamin A?
Vitamin A is essential for good vision and cell differentiation. Deficiency results in growth retardation, damage to mucous membrane tracts, reproductive disorders, eye damage—and ultimately blindness. Children with vitamin A deficiency are often deficient in multiple micronutrients and are likely to be anemic, have impaired growth, and be at increased risk of severe morbidity from common childhood infections such as diarrheal diseases and measles. Pregnant women with vitamin A deficiency may be at increased risk of mortality.

Regional and global prevalence (%) and numbers affected by vitamin A deficiency and xerophthalmia

* Includes China, Philippines, and Viet Nam

Source: 5th report on the world nutrition situation, UN SCN, March 2004