Guidelines for the eradication of vitamin A deficiency and zerophthalmia, a report

THIS REPORT PROVIDES INFORMATION USEFUL FOR DESIGNING EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS. IT DISCUSSES WAYS TO ASSESS VITAMIN A STATUS, TO SELECT INTERVENTION STRATEGIES, AND TO EVALUATE THE STRATEGIES. IT GIVES THE RESEARCH NEEDS IN PRESENT AND FUTURE VITAMIN A PROGRAMS AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL VITAMIN A CONSULTATIVE GROUP (IVACG) CONCERNING RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT NEEDS. IVACG RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: A PERMANENT SECRETARIAT AND INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE ON VITAMIN A SHOULD BE SET UP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AS SHOULD A REFERENCE LIBRARY. A ROSTER OF EXPERTS IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF VITAMIN A PROGRAMMING SHOULD BE COMPILED. PROJECTS SHOULD BE SET UP TO DEVELOP BETTER WAYS TO DETERMINE VITAMIN A PRECURSORS AND TO STANDARDIZE METHODS OF COLLECTING AND STORING TISSUES IN PREPARATION FOR VITAMIN A ASSAYS. RESEARCH SHOULD BE SUPPORTED ON THE PHYSIOLOGY OF VISION, ON STAINING TECHNIQUES TO DETERMINE XEROSIS CONJUNCTIVAE, AND ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY AND TASTE IMPAIRMENT AND COLOR DISCRIMINATION. RESEARCH SHOULD BE DONE ON WHICH FOODS FOR VARIOUS POPULATIONS ARE SUITABLE FOR FORTIFICATION, AND ON THE ABSORPTION, STORAGE, TRANSPORTATION, AND EXCRETION OF VITAMIN A SUPPLIED BY INTERMITTENT HIGH-LEVEL DOSING. GROUPS OR SECTIONS WITHIN EXISTING INSTITUTES OR CENTERS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON THE PROBLEM OF VITAMIN A NUTRITION.