Metagenics, Vitamin Angels partner to help children with vitamin A deficiencies

July 6, 2011 — Metagenics Inc. a nutrigenomics and lifestyle medicine company announced it will partner with Vitamin Angels’ Operation 20/20 outreach program to eliminate vitamin A deficiency (VAD) among infants, children, and pregnant mothers worldwide.

For every two bottles of Metagenics’ omega-3 fish oil supplements that is sold, Metagenics will fund nutritional support for a child under 5 for one year.

“We are proud to partner with Vitamin Angels in an international program to reduce mortality and sickness in some of the most vulnerable and underserved populations in the world,” said Jeffrey Bland, PhD, FACN, FACB, the chief science officer for Metagenics Inc. “Our mission at Metagenics is to help individuals achieve optimum health. Now, people can help a child in need to be healthy, while also improving their own health when purchasing two bottles of our omega-3 fish oil supplements.”

“With Metagenics’ help, Vitamin Angels is now reaching over 24 million children in the U.S. and in 40 countries around the world,” said Howard B. Schiffer, president and founder of Vitamin Angels. “For the children and mothers we are serving, these vitamins are giving them a chance to lead full and productive lives. We are honored to have Metagenics as a partner in this important effort.”

It is estimated that 190 million pre-school aged children and 19 million lactating women worldwide do not get enough vitamin A in their daily diets, according to the World Health Organization.

Vitamin A deficiency is a significant, global health problem and a contributing cause of death and diseases to children and pregnant woman. Vitamin A is an essential nutrient needed in small amounts for normal functioning of the visual system, growth and development, maintenance of epithelial cellular integrity, immune function, and reproduction. It is believed that supplementation with vitamin A alone would dramatically reduce infant and child mortality combined by 23 percent.

Operation 20/20 currently works in 33 countries on three continents and reaches more than 20 million infants, children, and lactating women annually. By partnering with manufacturers, corporations, and individuals who support the cause through monetary donations, Vitamin Angels has been able to help prevent child mortality, sickness, and blindness worldwide.

Through Operation 20/20, vitamin A is distributed through existing facility-based health services, or through community-based services such as community health days or immunization campaigns.

Source: Metagenics, www.metagenics.com