FYI: Anemia

Iron Deficiency And Anaemia Risk For Children In Low Income Countries Can Be Reduced With The Addition Of Micronutrient Powders To Their Food

Editor's Choice
Academic Journal
Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 07 Sep 2011 - 10:00 PDT

 email to a friend    printer friendly    opinions    

Current Article Ratings:

Patient / Public:
Healthcare Prof:

A new Cochrane Systematic Review concludes that the risk of anaemia and iron deficiency among infants and children between the ages of six months and 2 years, can be reduced by adding a powder to their food that contains numerous vitamins and minerals, such as iron, zinc and vitamin A. 

Over two billion individuals worldwide are affected by vitamin and mineral deficiencies, especially in iron, zinc and vitamin A. Because infants and young children grow so fast, they usually have diets low in these nutrients making them highly vulnerable. Micronutrient powders are single-dose sachets that contain, in powder form, several vitamins and minerals that can be sprinkled on top of any semi-solid food immediately prior to eating, whether their child is at home or any other place. Therefore, this intervention is known as home or point of use fortification. 

Led by Luz Maria De-Regil, a group of investigators set out to determine whether the health of young children improved by using micronutrient powders. They discovered eight appropriate studies that combined consisted of 3,748 children living in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean, where anemia is a public health problem. The powder formulations used in the investigations, which lasted between two and 12 months, included between 5 and 15 nutrients. 

In comparison with no intervention or placebo, the risk of having anaemia was, in general, reduced by 31% by home fortification with the micronutrient powders, and Iron deficiency was reduced by 51%. However, they discovered that there was insignificant or no evidence that this intervention has an effect on growth, survival or overall developmental outcomes. De-Regil, who is an Epidemiologist at the Department of Nutrition for Health and Development of the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, explains: "We still need to know more about possible positive and adverse side effects as only a few trials reported on this." 

In addition they discovered that these miconutrient powders also had a very similar effect to daily iron supplements. However, the researchers report: 

"We need to treat this result with caution, however, because there was much less data for this comparison.

It seems that micronutrient powders can be helpful for infants and young children aged six to 23 months and living in places that have different amounts of anaemia and malaria, regardless of whether the intervention lasts two, six or 12 months or whether recipients are girls or boys.

This intervention involves mixing the powders with homemade food as a vehicle, so it is important to assure that basic sanitation is available and food hygiene and handling is done properly with safe water."

The investigators believe that more information is needed regarding the best combinations of vitamins and minerals to include in the formula, whether it should be given daily or intermittently and for what duration of time it should be given to ensure that children receive the maximum benefits. 

This review is informing the development of a new WHO guideline that has appeared in the recently launched electronic Library of Evidence of Nutrition Actions.

Written by Grace Rattue 
Copyright: Medical News Today


Link to story: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/234035.php