Review on the Impact of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato on the Reduction of Vitamin A Deficiency under Five Years Old Children and Lactating Women in Ethiopia

Abstract

Objectives: To combat vitamin A deficiency problem under five years old children and lactating women through food-based intervention which is sustainable approach under Ethiopian circumstance where supplementation of capsule and food fortification is inaccessible. Methods: For this approach orange-fleshed sweet potato which is rich in β-carotene is used as a potential crop to mitigate vitamin A deficiency.  Given its high provitamin A content, low input requirements and adaptation to African farming systems, orange-fleshed sweetpotatoes can make a sustainable contribution to human vitamin A nutrition. In this regard different food products such as: flat bread, complementary porridge, bread are being developed in Tigray and Southern Nation Nationality Peoples Regional States, Ethiopia from flours of OFSP blended with flours of other crops such as maize and wheat using different combination and the proximate analysis of the products were done accordingly. Results: The new products were found to be richer in vitamin A content compared to the local staple food of the community and the products were accepted by the community. Conclusions: Therefore, orange-fleshed sweet potato can be used for the long-term and sustainable intervention to prevent vitamin A deficiency in Ethiopia where it causes the death of children and lactating woman. So, much should be done on recipe development, nutritional education and popularization of orange-fleshed sweet potato to the rural community where supplementation capsule and food fortification is not consistently available to solve the deep-rotted vitamin A deficiency the country is facing.