Source: Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition 2006; 43 Suppl 3: S8-12.
This is a review article that deals with nutrient deficiency in the first 5 years of life and causes and timing of this nutrient deficiency especially in preschoolers in developing countries.
The common causes of nutritional depletion in the preschool period are:
| 1. |
Consumption of an inadequate diet with poor energy and micronutrient content. |
| 2. |
Low birth weight or prematurity that lead to poor stores |
| 3. |
Poor maternal micronutrient status during pregnancy and lactation especially of iron, Vitamin B complex, vitamin A, iodine and selenium that leads to nutrient depletion in the breast milk and in the child by the time the child reaches preschool period. |
| 4. |
Stopping breast milk early and substitution of complementary food of inadequate quality |
Rectification of these nutrient deficiencies as per the author:
| 1. |
While transitioning from breast milk to complementary feeds, weaning foods should be added gradually. By 9-11 months, the complementary feeds should supply 50-90% of the child?s vitamins and mineral requirements. Children above 8 months need at least 3 meals per day to have adequate energy consumption. |
| 2. |
Good intake of animal source food especially milk and milk products to ensure sufficient amount of vitamin B12, iron, zinc, riboflavin and calcium. |
| 3. |
Improvement of maternal diet and maternal micronutrient status because maternal undernutrition can cause low fetal accumulation of nutrient stores and secretion of inadequate amounts of some micronutrients in breast milk. |
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