Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
diminishing rapidly due to the effective iodized salt programs for populations living
in iodine-deficient regions.
Thus, in theory, providing iron, zinc and vitamin A as supplements or in forti-
fied foods to vulnerable populations could be a cost-effective remedy. In practice, it
is very important to choose appropriate contents of each in a supplement to prevent
damaging interactions. Iron is a particularly reactive element, so the choice of com-
pound used in a supplement or, more important, in fortification, is vital to its effec-
tiveness and its effects on other nutrients.
Meanwhile, it is clear that poverty underlies most deficiencies by removing choice
and variety.
Breastfeeding is a good start, but thereafter it is vital to remove the vicious spiral
of malnutrition and infection affecting so many millions of children in poverty in
developing countries. One spark of hope is that the mortality of the world's young
children appears overall to be falling, to under 10 million in 2006 (UNICEF 2007).
conclusIons
Most of the world's children live in poverty in the developing world. They consume
monotonous, low-quality diets deficient in many essential nutrients as well as energy.
They are subject to numerous infections, and their susceptibility and resistance to
these infections are reduced by their nutrient deficiencies. The vicious spiral created
leads to malnutrition, which in turn leads to either death or stunting, impaired physi-
cal and mental capacities, poor employment prospects, and chronic ill health. This
does not bode well for the next generation.
For individual nutrient deficiencies, although many associations have been made
between indices of their status and specific diseases, mechanisms still remain unclear.
Our limited understanding, particularly of nutrient interactions, means that we must
proceed cautiously when considering supplementation and fortification. More is not
necessarily better.
study toPIcs
Poverty
Malnutrition
Causes of anemia
Deiciencies
Iron
Zinc
Selenium
Thiamin
Folic acid
Vitamin A
Vitamin D
Nutrient deficiencies in general
Deficiency diseases
