growth and to combat infection inadequate intake of vitamin A at this age can lead to vitamin A deficiency that, turn, may cause night blindness and undermine growth and immune function. This also results in increased risk of morbidity and mortality, largely from diarrhea and respiratory infection Children are at a higher risk of intestinal infestations and infections, which may impair absorption of vitamin A has also been suggested that maternal vitamin A deficiency may contribute to mother-to-child transmission of HIV i) Neonates of vitamin A deficient mothers are born with decreased vitamin A reserves Breast milk is the only significant source of vitamin A for infants and infants fed little or no breast milk in early life are increasingly sus- ceptible to infections Children in developing countries are at risk of consuming vita- min A deficient diets (S Unlike those in developed countries, who receive abundant preformed vitamin A (retinol) from animal foods (liver, eggs, milk and milk products), poor people living in third world countries rely on cheap dark green-yellow local vegetables and fruits for vitamin A. owing to poor bioavailability plant foods that provide B carotene in particular, are a substitute of preformed vitamin A.