Vitamin A: the functionality of supplementation for children of all ages

Objective:to analyze scientific production in the search for the best scientific evidence for vitamin A supplementation in children at different growth and development stages. Methodology: This is a systematic literature review that followed the protocol proposed by the Cochrane Center of Brazil. Data collection was performed in Pubmed, Scopus, Cinahl, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases, using the English descriptors, selected Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). Thus, from the 10 selected studies, according to the criteria, their methodological characteristics were analyzed through globally validated instruments and the degree of scientific evidence was identified. Results: As regards the analysis of the results it was evidenced that vitamin A supplementation should be as follows: first analyze the social characteristics of the population, thus defining the nutritional profile; and supplementation should be above the stimulated age, recommending the dosage of vitamin A in growth and development appointments. Conclusion: Studies show the benefit of using vitamin A in populations said to be vulnerable. However, studies show that this practice must be analyzed according to the social vulnerability of each country and region