Vitamin A Assessment

Question 1

What is the clinical indicator of vitamin A status?

Answer 1

Xerophthalmia

Question 2

Which serum retinol level indicates subclinical vitamin A deficiency according to WHO?

Answer 2

<0.70 μmol/L

Question 3

What prevalence of night blindness in children ≤5 years indicates a public health problem?

Answer 3

1%

Question 4

What is the prevalence cut-off for Bitot’s spots indicating a public health problem?

Answer 4

0.5%

Question 5

What level of plasma vitamin A indicates a severe public health problem?

Answer 5

≤20 μg/dL (≤0.7 μmol/L)

Question 6

What does an increase of >20% in serum RBP after a specific vitamin A dose indicate?

Answer 6

Positive Relative Dose Response (RDR) test

Question 7

What is assessed in conjunctival impression cytology (CIC) for vitamin A deficiency?

Answer 7

Decrease in mucin-containing goblet cells and enlarged epithelial cells

Question 8

Which physiological indicator assesses impaired dark adaptation?

Answer 8

Night blindness

Question 9

What tool is used to measure dark adaptation in vitamin A deficiency?

Answer 9

Dark adaptometer

Question 10

What is the prophylactic vitamin A dose for children <11 months in populations with ≥1% night blindness prevalence?

Answer 10

100,000 IU

Question 11

How often should children aged 12 months to 5 years receive vitamin A supplementation in high-risk populations?

Answer 11

Every 6 months

Question 12

What prevalence of serum retinol <0.7 μmol/L indicates a severe public health problem?

Answer 12

≥20%

Question 13

What is a key short-term strategy for preventing vitamin A deficiency in infants?

Answer 13

Promotion of breastfeeding

Question 14

Which dietary strategy is emphasized for preventing vitamin A deficiency?

Answer 14

Dietary diversification

Question 15

What long-term strategy involves improving access to vitamin A-rich foods?

Answer 15

Dietary diversification and home gardening

Question 16

What is the recommended vitamin A prophylactic dose for children aged 12 months to 5 years?

Answer 16

200,000 IU

Question 17

What test measures vision restoration time (VRT) in vitamin A deficiency?

Answer 17

Functional/physiological test

Question 18

What does the pupillary threshold test assess in vitamin A deficiency?

Answer 18

Pupillary reaction under low illumination

Question 19

Which WHO strategy helps detect VAD prevalence in populations?

Answer 19

Nutritional surveys

Question 20

Which WHO strategy helps detect VAD prevalence in populations?

Answer 20

By reducing infection rates that exacerbate VAD

Question 21

What population group should receive dietary education for vitamin A-rich food intake?

Answer 21

Pregnant and lactating women

Question 22

What prevalence of corneal xerosis, ulceration, or keratomalacia indicates a public health problem?

Answer 22

0.01%

Question 23

What prevalence of corneal scarring indicates a public health issue?

Answer 23

0.05%

Question 24

What is the threshold for no public health problem for subclinical VAD?

Answer 24

<2% prevalence

Question 25

What is an indicator of a mild public health problem for subclinical VAD?

Answer 25

2-9% prevalence

Question 26

Which functional test is used to measure the ability of the eye to recognize a letter under low illumination?

Answer 26

Vision restoration time (VRT)

Question 27

What is the primary purpose of the Relative Dose Response (RDR) test?

Answer 27

To assess liver stores of vitamin A

Question 28

Which physiological indicator evaluates the reaction of pupils in low illumination?

Answer 28

Pupillary threshold test

Question 29

What is the prevalence cut-off for moderate public health problems for subclinical VAD?

Answer 29

10-19%

Question 30

What short-term strategy improves early diagnosis of vitamin A deficiency?

Answer 30

Training health personnel

Question 31

What is the role of sanitation in preventing vitamin A deficiency?

Answer 31

Reducing infections that exacerbate VAD

Question 32

What is a long-term strategy to ensure sustainable access to vitamin A-rich foods?

Answer 32

Developing effective national food and nutrition policies

Question 33

Which dietary practice is encouraged to combat VAD in rice-dependent communities?

Answer 33

Dietary diversification

Question 34

What histological method is used to assess vitamin A deficiency?

Answer 34

Conjunctival impression cytology (CIC)

Question 35

Which cells decrease in conjunctival impression cytology in vitamin A deficiency?

Answer 35

Mucin-containing goblet cells

Question 36

What prevalence of serum retinol <0.7 μmol/L indicates no public health problem?

Answer 36

<2%

Question 37

What prevalence of serum retinol <0.7 μmol/L indicates a mild public health problem?

Answer 37

2–9%

Question 38

Short term strategies for Vitamin A deficiency

Answer 38

1. Promotion of breast feeding 2. For bottle fed baby, use of fortified formulas 3. Dietary Education (diversification): Increase intake of vitamin A food sources by at risk populations (pregnant & lactating females) and to include vitamin. A rich sources in weaning food. 4.Immunization, improve sanitation, food hygiene, combat against infections. 5. Increase awareness of health personnel for early diagnosis for early diagnosis, proper treatment. 6.Doing nutritional survey to find the prevalence of this problem ( planning & evaluation) 7.Vitamin A supplementation

Question 39

Long Term Strategies for VAD

Answer 39

1. Food based strategies 2. Develop effective and sustainable national food and nutrition plans and policies 3. Fortification of staple foods 4. Dietary diversification and improvement: ensuring regular access to foods that are naturally rich in vitamin A 5. Promotion breast feeding 6. Growing fruits and vegetables in home gardens 7. Promotion of intake of vitamin a-rich diets and increase accessibility to these food 8. Greater awareness on nutrition