title: Five decades of vitamin A studies in the region of Central America and Panama.
abstract: Vitamin A deficiency in Central America was first identified as a public health problem in the 1950s. It affected primarily children. The main underlying cause was a deficient intake of pre-formed vitamin A, but infection and intestinal parasitism also played important roles. INCAP focused its efforts on overcoming this problem and developed, as a short-term solution, the technology to fortify sugar with vitamin A. Fortification programs were implemented in several Central American countries. Evaluation of these programs revealed a significant impact-not only on vitamin A status, but also on iron nutrition and hematological condition. Longer-term solutions, like increasing the availability and consumption of vitamin A-rich foods, were later suggested and operational tools were developed to assist the countries in the region in the implementation, evaluation and monitoring of their own fortification programs.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arroyave
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Mejia
mesh_terms: D000047:Academies and Institutes / Q000266:history*; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D002489:Central America / Q000453:epidemiology; D004032:Diet; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D004224:Diterpenes; D005504:Food Analysis; D005523:Food Supply; D005527:Food, Fortified / Q000266:history; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D018673:Nutrition Policy / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D004224:Diterpenes; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D014801:Vitamin A; C014794:retinol palmitate; D002338:Carotenoids