Vitamin Deficiency

"Vitamins are obtained from the different types of foods that we consume. If a diet is lacking a certain type of nutrient, a vitamin deficiency may occur. The traditional diet in Pohnpei, an island in the Federated States of Micronesia, consisted of local tropical produce such as bananas, papaya, mango, pineapple, coconut, as well as seafood. However, due to a shift in dietary patterns from fresh foods to processed and refined foods, the island is suffering from a magnitude of health concerns. A study conducted by the Department of Health of the Federated States of Micronesia on children aged two to four years old in Pohnpei showed that the prevalence for vitamin A deficiency among children aged 2–5 was 53 percent. To combat this issue, the Island Food Community of Pohnpei has been instrumental in promoting increased local karat banana consumption. The karat banana is rich in beta-carotene, a source of vitamin A, and increasing consumption among the locals will decrease the prevalence of vitamin A deficiencies in Pohnpei."