Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D): prevalence of deficiencies and supplementation program among young children in Algeria

Author : Akrour Aissou Cherifa

Abstract :The prevalence of vitamin A and D deficiencies, calculated on a group of healthy Algerian children aged 1 to 23 months, was far from negligible. The assessment of vitamin A status by serum retinol dosage suggests that, even in the studied area (Blida) in northern Algeria, vitamin A deficiencies (VAD) are common. Of the 150 children studied, not supplemented with vitamin A, 19% had a serum retinol concentration lower than 0.70 µmol/L, which indicates the presence of a moderate VAD according to the classification of the significance levels of the VAD in public health in young children (6-71 months). The highest rate of VAD is observed in the infant class (1-2 months) (41%). However, the deficiency in vitamin A transporter proteins (76% deficient in retinol binding protein (RBP) and 10% in prealbumin), probably linked to moderate malnutrition, may be a confounding factor. Assessment of vitamin D status by measuring circulating calcidiol (25OHD), show the existence of a significant difference between the average serum concentrations of children’s groups with vitamin D (D3 B.O.N*) supplement (n= 125) and non-supplement (n= 25). The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency remains high (40%) in the children’s group with non supplement in vitamin D according to the new threshold 25(OH) D < 20 µg/L or 50 nmol /L compared to children group with vitamin D supplement (4%). None of the 125 children who received vitamin D supplementation according to the recommendations currently used in Algeria (one dose of 200.000 IU at 1 month and a second dose of 200.000 IU at 6 months), presents a severe deficiency in vitamin D (25(OH) D <10 µg/L). These results highlight the importance of vitamin D supplementation to improve the vitamin D status of at-risk children

Keywords :“vitamin A deficiency, vitamin D deficiency, Algerian children, supplementation, malnutrition”

Conference Name :International Conference on Clinical Nutrition (ICCN-25)

Conference Place Zurich,Switzerland

Conference Date 5th Dec 2025