Vitamin A deficiency: policy implications of estimates of trends and mortality in children – Authors' reply

Abstract

Our reference to the work of Mason and colleagues was in a sentence that stated that “until this [an improvement in the overall nutrition of the population, including through dietary diversification and improved access to vitamin-rich foods, and improved access to treatment for infectious diseases] happens, large scale or targeted supplementation or fortification strategies will probably have some beneficial effect on mortality in these [south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa] regions”. This approach, whose ultimate aim is regular intake, largely through diet, is not inconsistent with the prudent phase-over approach outlined by Mason and colleagues.