Vitamins are one of the nutrients that are important to make the body healthy and fit. There are several kinds of vitamins and one of the most important vitamins is vitamin A. Vitamin A deficiency is a significant public health problem in many countries especially low and middle income countries affecting children, women of childbearing age, and pregnant women. Though the function of vitamin A is important for immunity and growth. Apart from that, vitamin A is also a powerful antioxidant and acts as a hormone in the body. According to the Public Health Journal, the function of vitamins is also good for good eyesight, cell growth, and prevention of cancer and heart disease.

Research according to the Cochrane Public Health Group, examines some of the staple foods that can be found and used to determine whether these foods contain vitamin A with or without micronutrients. One of the staple foods studied is sugar. Sugar is a basic need for a country. Sugar itself is an organic compound which is important as a source of calories because it is easily digested in the body and has a sweet taste. However, does sugar which is a staple food really contain vitamin A? According to the FDC data (central food data) published by the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) provides the following data:

From the data held by the USDA, initially sugar does not contain vitamin A, or any other vitamins. But is it possible to add vitamin A itself to sugar?

The results of a study according to the Cochrane Public Health Group prove this statement by taking several relevant studies from various countries such as China, India, Philippines, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Mexico. From several studies in various countries, it is proven that strengthening or supplementing staple foods with vitamin A and other micronutrients may not improve vitamin A status, aka close to zero or no effect at all. The staple food here includes sugar. The study also proved that adding vitamin A to sugar and other micronutrients did not increase serum retinol levels. Serum retinol is an indicator of vitamin A stores in the body. This indicates that even though there is an addition or strengthening of vitamin A in the sugar content, this does not affect or even does not increase the level of vitamin A in our body, meaning that vitamin A which is contained in sugar is useless, because it has no effect on the body.

Therefore, it can be concluded that granulated sugar / GKP does not contain vitamin A, although this sugar is also added with vitamin A, it still does not produce any effect on the body when consumed. Therefore, to better meet the needs of vitamin A in the body with foods that are trusted to contain natural vitamin A such as fruit, vegetables, fish oil, peas, and so on.