Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• West Jr, K.P.

Titel

Vitamin A deficiency as a preventable cause of maternal mortality in undernourished societies: plausibility and next steps

Ist Teil von

• International journal of gynecology and obstetrics, 2004-06, Vol.85 (S1), p.S24-S27

Ort / Verlag

United States: Elsevier Ireland Ltd

Erscheinungsjahr

2004

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• 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.