ON FOOD fORTI - DOH Central Library - Department of Health

8
A Report. on Food Fortification
Prevalence of clinical signs and symptoms of vitamin A deficiency' by
age group and physiologic state, Philippines, 1993
Age/Physiologic Total Nightblindness Bitot's Spot Comneal Corneal
Sfate Number Ulceration Scar
Examined
6 mos.- 6 years 5,049 0.4 0.1 0.1
7 - 14 years 4,578 1.3 0.1 0.1
15 - 19 years 1,593 1.1 0.2 0.2
.Pregnant 783 0.5 0.2 0.2
Lactating 1,053 1.0 0 0.3 0.4
TOTAL 13,056 0.8 0.1 n 0.1
Source: Fourth National Nutrition Survey, Philippines, 1993, DOST-FNRl
of Health and Helen Keller International
indicate that the problem is severe in farflung
rural and urban poor communities
as xerophthalmia was observed in 1 - 4
of every 100 pre-schoolers in these
communities. These are indicative of a
public health problem according to. the
standards of the WHO.
Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA)
Iron is a mineral needed by the body
and is necessary for the formation of red
blood cells and is a carrier of oxygen
from the lungs to body tissues.
Iron deficiency anemia affects 28.9%
of the population or about 19 million
Filipinos. Most affected are infants, young.
.children, pregnant and lactating women,
women of child-bearing age, the early
adolescents, and the elderly. The
prevalence of IDA decreased to 37.2% in
1987;yet its magnitude cannotbe ignored
as millions continue to be affected. .
Iodine Deficiency
Iodine is a mineral component of
the thyroid hormones neededfor the brain
and the nervous system to develop and
- function normally. Iodine can be found
in water and food from the sea such as
fishes, shellfishes, and, seaweed, among
others.
Iodine. deficiency is. usually
determined through the prevalence of