Venkatesh Mannar ¹, Saraswati Bulusu ²

Affiliations
1 International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, ONKIR 7ZI, CA
2 New Delhi, IN

Abstract

Micronutrient deficiencies are a significant cause of malnutrition and associated ill health throughout the world. This is particularly true in the developing countries like India. Deficiencies in iodine, iron and vitamin A are known to be especially prevalent and are associated with a range of mild to severe (often irreversible) effects.

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Indira Chakravarty ¹, Saraswati Bulusu ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Calcutta, IN

Abstract

Vitamin A deficiency has been identified as a leading nutritional deficiency disorder among young children and a major reason for causing blindness. A survey conducted by ICMR during 1971-74 on all India basis indicated that the cause of blindness for 2 per cent of the total 9 million blinds in the country were attributable to corneal diseases caused by vitamin A deficiency. Similar studies conducted by ICMR during 1965-69 had shown that about 7 per cent children in the age group of 1-5 years had ocular signs and vitamin A deficiency.

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