Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
to increase production and consumption of animal source foods is addressed in
Chapter 24.
Despite the advantages that a food-based approach including animal source foods
in the prevention of micronutrient deficiencies might have, there are also some criti-
cal aspects associated with an increase in the consumption of animal source foods.
An increase in nutrition-related noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer,
and cardiovascular disease is now apparent in large segments of many developing
countries that are undergoing the so-called nutrition transition with changing life-
style and dietary patterns that include increased meat consumption (Popkin 1994).
However, the view of some researchers is that, particularly in low-income countries,
the contribution of meat to improved nutrient intakes more than offsets the uncertain
association with these diseases (Biesalski 2002, Hill 2002). In places where there is a
choice of a large variety of healthy foods, a vegetarian diet has been associated with
several health benefits and is definitely a worthwhile alternative, particularly if such
a diet includes eggs and dairy products. However, diets that exclude animal source
foods are not recommended for small children due to the energetic demands of their
rapidly expanding large brain and generally high metabolic and nutritional demands
relative to adults (Biesalski 2002, Milton 2003). Given that the diets of children in
developing countries are generally very low in fat, the dietary fat provided by animal
source foods is even advantageous because it is a concentrated source of energy and
enhances absorption of fat-soluble nutrients. Further, it is not likely that any addi-
tional fat provided by animal foods would result in fat intakes that exceed current
recommendations (Haskell and Brown 1997). However, the potential adverse health
effects linked with an increased intake of animal source foods should not be ignored
by policy makers who focus on livestock promotion (Popkin and Du 2003).
conclusIons
•
Deficiencies of multiple micronutrients are widely prevalent among chil-
dren in developing countries and are partly caused by poor diet quality.
Vegan diets are not suitable for infants and children and can impair
•
their health.
Animal source foods are nutrient-dense foods that provide protein of high
•
biological value, energy, fat, and micronutrients, such as highly bioavailable
iron and zinc, calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin B
12
.
Positive associations between the intake of animal source foods and neonatal
•
growth and health, improved micronutrient status, growth, cognitive function,
physical activity, emotional state, social interactions, and school performance
in children in developing countries have been found in several studies.
The promotion of animal source food consumption by children in develop-
•
ing countries seems to be a viable food-based approach to provide highly
bioavailable nutrients simultaneously to children and to improve their
health and development.
