Micronutrient Status of Children in India

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Nutrition in Children

Micronutrients Articles

Micronutrient Status of Children in India

NUTRITION IN CHILDREN

Micronutrients in Children

Role of Micronutrients in Diet of Preschooler

Micronutrient Status of Children in India

Micronutrient Supplementation and it's Effect on Children

Micronutrients Vitamin B complex

Micronutrients Vitamin C and Vitamin D

Calcium and phosphorus in diet

Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in children

Community Level Micronutrient Deficiency in Preschoolers

Micronutrients: Vitamin A, E and K

Immunity and Growth of Children

Nutrition For Healthy Growth and Immunity

Nutrition and Brain Development

Nutrition and Infections

Dietary Inadequacy in First Three Years of Life

Feeding guidelines for infants and young children in India

Prebiotics for Children

Prebiotics & Probiotics And Gut Health in Children

Prebiotics and Probiotics for Healthy Children

Role of probiotics in children

Role of prebiotics in children

Prebiotics and probiotic combinations in children

DHA in children

DHA Need and Importance During Growing Period

Malnutrition in children

Problems of Malnutrition in India among Children

Adult Onset Diseases and Malnutrition

Nutrition In Indian Urban Children

Malnutrition Among Preschoolers

Nutrition Growth Charts

Length/Height for age

Subscapular skin fold thickness

Triceps skin fold thickness

MICRONUTRIENT STATUS OF CHILDREN IN INDIA

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Multimicronutrient deficiencies exist in children in developing countries. With decrease in severe cases of protein-energy Malnutrition, deficiencies of micronutrients in children have gained importance. According to National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau of India, over 50% of apparently healthy looking children have subclinical or biochemical deficiencies of vitamin A, vitamin B₂, B₆, folate and vitamin C and over 2/3^rd have clinical evidence of iron deficiency⁽¹⁾. Jani et al found that urban slum children between 13-24 months in Mumbai were given complementary foods that were variably prepared. Most of the children were only on cereal based diets with very small amount of vegetables/fruits in the diet. Fenugreek was the only leafy vegetable included but was given to only 1-2% of children. Intake of all nutrients especially calcium and iron was low and other nutrients deficient were zinc and energy content of the feeds⁽²⁾. In rural preschool children of West Bengal, 81% of children were anemic of which 91% were in 1-3 years age group⁽³⁾. Although a national vitamin A prophylaxis programme has been in operation for more than 3 decades, vitamin A deficiency still continues to be a major nutritional problem. In rural preschool children of Maharashtra, prevalence of Bitot's spots (1.3%) and night blindness (1.1%) was higher than the WHO cut-off levels used to define a public health problem⁽⁴⁾. Low vitamin B₁₂ levels and hyper homocysteine were seen in 14% of asymptomatic Indian toddlers in a study by Hanumante et al in Pune suggestive of increased cardiovascular risk in adulthood⁽⁵⁾. Low dietary calcium and low vitamin D intake have been found in both urban and rural children in Andhra Pradesh in a study done in 70 healthy rural children and 76 urban children⁽⁶⁾.

This multimicronutrient deficiency in Indian children especially preschoolers is due to variety of causes. Maternal deficiency of micronutrients leads to poor fetal stores and also micronutrient deficiency in breast milk. Complementary feeds in infants are often cereal based with less fruits and vegetables, are more diluted with water especially dal and khichdi and quantity given may not be enough. Thus, intake of all nutrients becomes low. As the child grows older, it develops food preferences and becomes quite fussy to take green leafy vegetables and fruits thus compromising its intake of micronutrients from dietary sources. Staple Indian food gets replaced by Western diet such as Pizza, Burgers, Cakes and junk food which are calorie dense but micronutrient deficient especially in the higher socio-economic group. Thus, sets in an environment of multimicronutrient deficiency in children from every strata of life.

These micronutrients are required for optimal functioning of immune system, prevention of frequent infections, achieving optimum growth and mental development as per genetic potential of individual. Thus ensuring adequate intake of multimicronutrients in children and especially in first few years of life becomes essential to achieve these health targets.

References

1.		Singh M. Role of micronutrients for physical growth and mental development. Indian J Pediatr. 2004; 71: 59-62.
2.		Jani R, Udipi SA, Ghugre PS. Mineral content of complementary foods. Indian J Pediatr. 2009; 76: 37-44.
3.		Arlappa N, Balkrishna N, Laxmaiah A, Brahmam GN. Prevalence of anaemia among rural preschool children of West Bengal, India. Am Hum Biol. 2009; 4: 1-12.
4.		Arlappa N, Laxmaiah A, Balkrishna N, Harikumar R, Brahmam GN. Clinical and sub-clinical vitamin A deficiency among rural preschool children of Maharashtra, India. Am Hum Biol. 2008; 35: 606-614.
5.		Hanumante NM, Wadia RS, Deshpande SS, Sanwalka NJ, Vaidya MV, Khadilkar AV. Vitamin B12 and homocysteine status in asymptomatic Indian toddlers. Indian J Pediatr. 2008; 75: 751-753.
6.		Harinarayan CV, Ramalakshmi T, Prasad UV, Sudhakar D. Vitamin D status in Andhra Pradesh : a population based study. Indian J Med Res. 2008; 127: 211-218.

Last updated: 1^st April 2010 . Copyrighted Pediatric Oncall

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