The consumption of foods and beverages rich in vitamins is the key factor for human body to function optimally. One of the vitamins is Vitamin A, which plays a vital role in maintaining the health of eyes, as antioxidant, against cancer, and maintaining the health of human body as a whole.
But deficiency of Vitamin A still stands as a serious problem in Indonesia, with worrying impact to the health and growth of next generations.
Tackling Vitamin A Deficiency in Indonesia
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin which plays an important role in keeping human health, especially in maintaining eye health and function. Vitamin A is needed for eye health, as antioxidant, against cancer, and for other purposes.
Although Vitamin is vital for human body, but it cannot be produced by human body. It has to be supplied through foods or supplements.
Vitamin A shortage can cause a number of health problems, including visual impairment, slow growth, and growth problems in children. The shortage of vitamin A can also cause a decrease of state productivity and competitiveness and increase inequality and poverty in the long term. Therefore, resolving the problem of vitamin A deficiency is very crucial for public welfare.
Based on data on nutritional needs, every individual needs around 3,000 IU Vitamin A every day. Having a total population of more than 270 million people, Indonesia needs around 86.5 tons of Vitamin A every year. Despite most of Vitamin A need is still fulfilled by local producers, Indonesia still imports a significant amount of Vitamin A in 2020 to fulfill the domestic need (ITC Trade Map, 2021).
Rich in Vitamin A, Palm Oil is a solution to tackle Vitamin A deficiency
Instead of relying on import of Vitamin A, Indonesia should actually utilize its abundant local resources. The palm oil is a rich source of vitamin A or high content of pro-Vitamin A. Previously, there had been a myth saying that palm oil has only low content of Vitamin A, but the actual fact shows otherwise.
Actually, compared to other food sources, the palm oil has the highest content of Vitamin A. In fact, palm oil is a natural source of carotenoids that are rich in β-carotene. The content of beta carotene in palm oil reaches 500-1000 ppm, which is greater than the beta carotene content in carrots, tomatoes, or bananas. Equivalently, it turns out that the Vitamin A content in palm oil is greater than other sources of Vitamin A such as oranges, bananas, tomatoes, and carrots.
Benefits of Palm Oil: More than Just Food Source
The table of carotenoid/Vitamin A content comparison in various food sources shows the superiority of palm oil in terms of Vitamin A content.
The above data shows that palm oil has very high content of Vitamin A. As a matter of fact, the Vitamin A content in palm oil is 15 times higher than carrots and almost 100 times higher than bananas. Rich in carotenoids, the palm oil acts as a precursor and source of Vitamin A, providing many benefits to human health. A variety of health and medical research projects have proven its benefits to human health, including the following:
- Antioxidants that fight free radicals
- Protects heart health (cardioprotection)
- Anti-cancer
- Increases body immunity
- Maintains eye health
- Overcomes inflammation
- Supports skin health
- Prevents stunting
Conclusion
The very high content of Vitamin A in palm oil is a great potential that should be optimally utilized by Indonesia. Resolving the problem of Vitamin A deficiency is a joint responsibility to create a healthy and quality future generation.
By utilizing local resources and supporting the development of the pharmaceutical industry, Indonesia can become a pioneer in producing Vitamin A from palm oil. To achieve independence in nutrition and health, Indonesia should strengthen a collaboration among all stakeholders in utilizing the abundance of Vitamin A in palm oil to create a healthy and prosperous Indonesia. (*)
Palmoilina.asia. https://palmoilina.asia/berita-sawit/kaya-vitamin-a-si-merah-jingga/. Kaya Vitamin A, Si Merah Jingga Solusi KVA 2023. Agustus 7, 2023
