Cost-Effectiveness of "Golden Mustard" for Treating Vitamin A Deficiency in India

Recognizing the importance of Vitamin A in the reduction of illnesses related to Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) led to many studies for the solution of this problem. A paper published in PLOS One reports on the Cost-Effectiveness of ‘Golden Mustard' for Treating Vitamin A Deficiency in India based on the three modes of delivering beta carotene and Vitamin A to the consumers. Predicted costs and benefits of genetically modified (GM) fortification of mustard seed for high beta carotene (precursor of Vitamin A), high-dose Vitamin A supplementation and industrial Vitamin A fortification of mustard oil during processing were compared by calculating the avertable health burden in terms of disability-adjusted life years (DALY).

Of the three interventions, GM fortification, although costly in the short term would avert the most number of DALYs (5 to 6 million) and 8,000 to 46,000 more deaths. Although supplementation is the least costly intervention, GM fortification could reduce VAD burden because of its wider reach, especially in areas that do not readily benefit from supplementation programs and without access to Primary Health Care Facilities. In India, choice of Vitamin A delivery should also be based on the consumption of mustard oil such that non-consuming mustard oil states should continue to rely on supplementation. "GM fortification of mustard seed in an attractive alternative, and further exploration of the technology is warranted," the paper concluded.

The full paper can be downloaded at http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0012046