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ISSN 0973 - 0958
Vitamins and Minerals Problems
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NUTRITION IN CHILDREN
VITAMINS AND MINERALS PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN IN INDIA
What is the magnitude of vitamin and mineral deficiency in children in India?
According to National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau of India, over 50% of apparently healthy looking children have deficiencies of vitamin A, vitamin B2, B6, folate and vitamin C and over 2/3rd have iron deficiency. Thus vitamin and mineral deficiency in India is quite high.
What is the situation in metro cities of India?
In urban slum children between 13-24 months in Mumbai it was found that 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.
What is the situation in rural India?
In rural preschool children of West Bengal, 81% of children had iron deficiency of which 91% were in 1-3 years age group. Vitamin A deficiency still continues to be a major nutritional problem. In rural preschool children of Maharashtra, prevalence of Vitamin A deficiency is higher than the WHO cut-off levels used to define a public health problem. Low vitamin B12 levels were seen in 14% of asymptomatic Indian toddlers around Pune. 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.
What is the cause of this mineral and vitamin deficiency in children in India?
This vitamin and mineral deficiencies in Indian children especially preschoolers is due to variety of causes.
What are the health related problems caused due to vitamin and mineral deficiencies?
Vitamins and minerals 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.
According to National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau of India, over 50% of apparently healthy looking children have deficiencies of vitamin A, vitamin B2, B6, folate and vitamin C and over 2/3rd have iron deficiency. Thus vitamin and mineral deficiency in India is quite high.
What is the situation in metro cities of India?
In urban slum children between 13-24 months in Mumbai it was found that 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.
What is the situation in rural India?
In rural preschool children of West Bengal, 81% of children had iron deficiency of which 91% were in 1-3 years age group. Vitamin A deficiency still continues to be a major nutritional problem. In rural preschool children of Maharashtra, prevalence of Vitamin A deficiency is higher than the WHO cut-off levels used to define a public health problem. Low vitamin B12 levels were seen in 14% of asymptomatic Indian toddlers around Pune. 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.
What is the cause of this mineral and vitamin deficiency in children in India?
This vitamin and mineral deficiencies in Indian children especially preschoolers is due to variety of causes.
1. |
Deficiency of vitamins and minerals in mothers leads to deficiency of same in the child in the womb and deficiency of same in breast milk. | ||
2. |
Once the child is started on other feeds apart from breast milk, the food is 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. | ||
3. |
As the child grows older, he/she develops food preferences and he/she becomes quite fussy to take green leafy vegetables and fruits thus compromising intake of minerals and vitamins from dietary sources. | ||
4. |
In higher socio-economic groups, staple Indian food has got replaced by Western diet such as Pizza, Burgers, Cakes and junk food which are calorie dense but deficientin minerals and vitamins. |
What are the health related problems caused due to vitamin and mineral deficiencies?
Vitamins and minerals 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.
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