Determine Vitamin A requirements of school children and adolescents?
The vitamin A requirement of children and adolescents has been computed from growth curve interpolation data. This considers that infant requirements of retinal are 50 mg / kg BW and adults 9, 3 mg / kg BW. On this basis, the vitamin A requirement of children will be 300-400 mg retinal l/d. In view of high vitamin A deficiency in India and low serum levels, ICMR 1990 recommends 600 mg 01 retinol to school children and adolescents (Table 15.2). This value is close to adult requirements. Table 15.2 also depicts requirements in β-carotene using the conversion factor, as Indian diets primarily meet vitamin A requirements from this precursor. Look up Table 7.l (b) in Unit 7 for FAOIWHO 2004 estimated mean requirement and safe level of intake of vitamin A.