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Vitamin A deficiency as a preventable cause of maternal mortality in undernourished societies: plausibility and next steps
Author(s) -
West Jr K.P.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijgo.2004.02.008
Subject(s) - medicine , micronutrient , malnutrition , environmental health , pregnancy , childbirth , vitamin , micronutrient deficiency , developing country , psychological intervention , vitamin a deficiency , public health , tuberculosis , retinol , nursing , genetics , pathology , biology , economics , economic growth
Maternal vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem in the developing world. Recent evidence from Nepal suggests that supplementing populations of rural, poor, and undernourished women with a recommended dietary amount of vitamin A—or its equivalent as beta‐carotene—can lower mortality risk related to pregnancy and childbirth, presumably by reducing the severity of conditions such as sepsis, tuberculosis, and diarrheal diseases. An adequate intake of beta‐carotene may also reduce some maternal health risks related to oxidative stress. These findings reveal the potential for vitamin A and other micronutrient interventions to improve maternal and infant health and survival. They also present important implementation challenges for the developing world.