PIP: In recent years several studies have demonstrated the close association of vitamin A deficiency and increased neonatal and childhood morbidity. The breast-fed infant depends on its vitamin A supply solely from maternal milk. Neonatal serum concentration of vitamin A is about one half that found in their mothers. As long as adequate lactational levels of the vitamin are present, the infant's vitamin A status improves over the first 12 months. If maternal vitamin A status is poor in pregnancy it may contribute to the high infant mortality observed in poorly nourished communities. Clinical proof was established only very recently demonstrating a strong correlation between vitamin A status of the mother and intake of the infant. Thus, an adequate vitamin A status during lactation prevents respiratory and diarrheal diseases in breast-fed infants and averts death caused by the diseases. The International Vitamin A Consultative Group (IVACG) suggested that the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin A in the diet of pregnant women should be 9.3 retinol equivalent (RE)/kg body weight + 100 RE. In marginally nourished populations such as western Rajasthan, it is recommended that daily supplemental doses of 3000 RE (10,000 IU) vitamin A be given during pregnancy provided that the dietary intake is inadequate. For lactating women, the goal is to maintain the highest vitamin A concentration in breast milk. The dietary RDA should be 9.3 RE/kg body weight + 350 RE, provided that the lactating woman did not enter the lactation period in a deficient state. If she did, megadoses of vitamin A (200,000-300,000 IU) may be safely given at parturition or within the first month after birth. This is adequate to maintain a normal range of vitamin A in maternal blood and milk for at least a month.