For centuries, nutritional deficiencies have been the source of much suffering, poor health, low resistance to infection, low life expectancy, and diminished labor and intellectual productivity of the world's population.
Deficiencies involve energy and proteins, as well as vitamins and minerals.
This document, the first of a three part series reporting the results of the review, focuses on the data available until mid-1997 on vitamin deficiencies in the LAC Region, as well as the actions and strategies currently implemented to control them. The other reports focus on mineral deficiencies. Iron defiency is regarded as the single most widespread nutrient deficiency in the world, including both developed and developing countries. This report is the second of a three part series on the comprehensive review of published and unpublished studies on micronutrient deficiencies in the countries of the LAC Region. The first report focuses on vitamin deficiencies, and the third focuses on iodine, calcium and zinc.