Micronutrient malnutrition is a form of undernutrition caused by a dietary deficiency of vitamins or minerals.
● Vitamin A deficiency (VAD)
● Anemia
● Iodine deficiency disorder (IDD)
Let’s have a closer look into these Micronutrient Deficiencies:
Vitamin A deficiency (VAD)
Causes and Symptoms
Primary vitamin A deficiency is usually caused by prolonged deprivation of adequate food that forces people into forage, begging, underpaid work, where they compromise their survival needs like medicine. Secondary Vitamin A deficiency occurs as a result of gastrointestinal abnormalities that lead to poor absorption of the vitamin available in food. Xerophthalmia is a common cause of blindness among young children in developing countries especially in India caused due to Vitamin A Deficiency.
Protein-energy malnutrition is often observed in VAD with a repressed synthesis of retinol-binding protein (RBP) due to protein deficiency leads to reduced retinol uptake. Excess alcohol consumption can exhaust vitamin A and other causes include fibrosis, pancreatic insufficiency, inflammatory bowel disease, and small-bowel bypass surgery.
VAD affects vision by hindering the production of rhodopsin, the eye pigment responsible for sensing low-light situations as the body stores of vitamin A is exhausted due to its low dietary intake Vitamin A deficiency often causes inadequate retinol intake, following in a decreased number of these T-cells/ lymphocytes, leading to poor immune response and ultimately a greater sensitivity to infections.
Treatment
65% of children between the ages of 6 and 59 months can be protected with two high-dose vitamin A supplements that benefit both mother and breastfed infants and reduces morbidity, especially from severe diarrhea, and mortality from measles. In India, these supplements are available in the form of syrup, capsules, tablets, injectables.
Food fortification is also useful for improving VAD. Cereal flours, staples like milk and oil, milk powder, and liquid milk are used as food vehicles for vitamins. Under Home Food Fortification one can use micronutrient powders available as sprinkles(Children & for pregnant and lactating women) given to the mother to add to the food traditionally eaten.
Dietary diversification can also control VAD. Nominal sources of vitamin A like fruits and vegetables contain preformed vitamin A and account for greater than 80% of intake for most individuals in the developing world. The increase in consumption of vitamin A-rich foods of animal origin has beneficial effects on VAD.
Check out the complete article at Hexagon Nutrition .