A study that was recently published on bmj.com states that children in countries that have low or middle incomes should be given supplements of Vitamin A to prevent illness and death.
Researchers of the study believe that conducting further trials to support this claim is unethical since the effectiveness of Vitamin A is already very well-documented. They are therefore urging policymakers to provide the supplements to all children who are at risk for deficiency.
Vitamin A is an essential nutrient that needs to be obtained through diet. Children who have a deficiency of Vitamin A are more likely to develop measles and diarrhoea, and could eventually go blind as well. The WHO estimates that 190 million children under five years of age across the world may be suffering a deficiency. But supplements do not reach all of them despite widespread efforts.
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