Global, regional, and national burden of vitamin A deficiency (1990–2021) and projections to 2042: associations with sociodemographic development

Since 1990, global VAD-attributable mortality and DALYs have declined significantly, driven by socioeconomic development and public health interventions. However, substantial inequalities persist, with low SDI regions and males bearing a disproportionate residual burden. Sustained investment in targeted nutrition programs integrated with infectious disease control alongside broader socioeconomic development, particularly in the poorest settings, is necessary to accelerate progress toward eliminating VAD as a public health threat.