Vitamin A Assessment Flashcards
What is the clinical indicator of vitamin A status?
Xerophthalmia
Which serum retinol level indicates subclinical vitamin A deficiency according to WHO?
<0.70 μmol/L
What prevalence of night blindness in children ≤5 years indicates a public health problem?
1%
What is the prevalence cut-off for Bitot’s spots indicating a public health problem?
0.5%
What level of plasma vitamin A indicates a severe public health problem?
≤20 μg/dL (≤0.7 μmol/L)
What does an increase of >20% in serum RBP after a specific vitamin A dose indicate?
Positive Relative Dose Response (RDR) test
What is assessed in conjunctival impression cytology (CIC) for vitamin A deficiency?
Decrease in mucin-containing goblet cells and enlarged epithelial cells
Which physiological indicator assesses impaired dark adaptation?
Night blindness
What tool is used to measure dark adaptation in vitamin A deficiency?
Dark adaptometer
What is the prophylactic vitamin A dose for children <11 months in populations with ≥1% night blindness prevalence?
100,000 IU
How often should children aged 12 months to 5 years receive vitamin A supplementation in high-risk populations?
Every 6 months
What prevalence of serum retinol <0.7 μmol/L indicates a severe public health problem?
≥20%
What is a key short-term strategy for preventing vitamin A deficiency in infants?
Promotion of breastfeeding
Which dietary strategy is emphasized for preventing vitamin A deficiency?
Dietary diversification
What long-term strategy involves improving access to vitamin A-rich foods?
Dietary diversification and home gardening
What is the recommended vitamin A prophylactic dose for children aged 12 months to 5 years?
200,000 IU
What test measures vision restoration time (VRT) in vitamin A deficiency?
Functional/physiological test
What does the pupillary threshold test assess in vitamin A deficiency?
Pupillary reaction under low illumination
Which WHO strategy helps detect VAD prevalence in populations?
Nutritional surveys
Which WHO strategy helps detect VAD prevalence in populations?
By reducing infection rates that exacerbate VAD
What population group should receive dietary education for vitamin A-rich food intake?
Pregnant and lactating women
What prevalence of corneal xerosis, ulceration, or keratomalacia indicates a public health problem?
0.01%
What prevalence of corneal scarring indicates a public health issue?
0.05%
What is the threshold for no public health problem for subclinical VAD?
<2% prevalence
What is an indicator of a mild public health problem for subclinical VAD?
2-9% prevalence
Which functional test is used to measure the ability of the eye to recognize a letter under low illumination?
Vision restoration time (VRT)
What is the primary purpose of the Relative Dose Response (RDR) test?
To assess liver stores of vitamin A
Which physiological indicator evaluates the reaction of pupils in low illumination?
Pupillary threshold test
What is the prevalence cut-off for moderate public health problems for subclinical VAD?
10-19%
What short-term strategy improves early diagnosis of vitamin A deficiency?
Training health personnel
What is the role of sanitation in preventing vitamin A deficiency?
Reducing infections that exacerbate VAD
What is a long-term strategy to ensure sustainable access to vitamin A-rich foods?
Developing effective national food and nutrition policies
Which dietary practice is encouraged to combat VAD in rice-dependent communities?
Dietary diversification
What histological method is used to assess vitamin A deficiency?
Conjunctival impression cytology (CIC)
Which cells decrease in conjunctival impression cytology in vitamin A deficiency?
Mucin-containing goblet cells
What prevalence of serum retinol <0.7 μmol/L indicates no public health problem?
<2%
What prevalence of serum retinol <0.7 μmol/L indicates a mild public health problem?
2–9%
Short term strategies for Vitamin A deficiency
- Promotion of breast feeding
- For bottle fed baby, use of fortified formulas
- Dietary Education (diversification): Increase intake of vitamin A food sources by at risk populations (pregnant & lactating females) and to include vitamin. A rich sources in weaning food.
4.Immunization, improve sanitation, food hygiene, combat against infections. - Increase awareness of health personnel for early diagnosis for early diagnosis, proper treatment.
6.Doing nutritional survey to find the prevalence of this problem ( planning & evaluation)
7.Vitamin A supplementation
Long Term Strategies for VAD
- Food based strategies
- Develop effective and sustainable national food and nutrition plans and policies
- Fortification of staple foods
- Dietary diversification and improvement: ensuring regular access to foods that are naturally rich in
vitamin A - Promotion breast feeding
- Growing fruits and vegetables in home gardens
- Promotion of intake of vitamin a-rich diets and increase accessibility to these food
- Greater awareness on nutrition
