Micronutrient deficiency is a particularly dangerous form of malnutrition caused by inadequate absorption of essential vitamins and minerals. It can be easily corrected by using efficient technologies to enrich the foods of common consumption.The objective of this study is to determine the nutritional status of vitamin A and D3 among the Moroccan population, five years after the fortification of vegetable oil (soybean) with Retinyl Palmitate and Vitamin D3.
Methodology used is the HPLC determination of serum vitamins A and D and CRP assessment in women of childbearing age (15-49 years) and preschool children (36 to 59 months) in rural and urbain regions.
The results showed that: 1- 29.6% of children (n = 386) have vitamin A deficiency (serum retinol level <200 µg / l) compared to 46% before the fortification of oil with vitamin A; 2- 6.9% of women (n = 560) have vitamin A deficiency (serum retinol level<200 mg/l) against 10% before the vitamin fortification of oil; 3- 6.7% of children (n = 387) have vitamin D deficiency (vitamin D level <27 nmol / l); 4- 5.7% of women (n = 558) have vitamin D deficiency (vitamin D level <27 nmol / l).
Fortifying edible oil with vitamin A and vitamin D showed some rather interesting results that are in favor of the success of the strategy of the fortification of widely consumed foods.