Hidden Malnutrition of Micronutrient Deficiencies affect Billions

Hidden hunger or hidden malnutrition or micronutrient deficiencies, affects more than 2 billion individuals globally (FAO). Over 80% of adolescents in India suffer from ‘hidden hunger which is a type of malnutrition that occurs due to the inadequate intake and absorption of vitamins and minerals.

It is a serious public health concern and our Project Santushti is an attempt to contribute to address the need successfully.

How is Hidden Malnutrition Caused and Who Are Affected?

• The most commonly recognized micronutrient deficiencies are caused by a lack of iodine, iron, and zinc. Less common, but noteworthy from a public health standpoint, is vitamin A deficiency.
• Lower intakes of other essential micronutrients, such as calcium, vitamin D, and B vitamins, such as folate are also common.
  Poor diet with low content of protein is also a common source of hidden malnutrition.
• Diets based majorly on staple crops, such as rice, wheat, and maize often result in hidden malnutrition due to the fact that they provide a large share of energy with very low amounts of essential vitamins and minerals.
• Children and Adolescents Between the Age of 4-15 Years are Most Affected by Hidden Malnutrition.
• Children and adolescents between the age of 4-15 years are often cited as the most affected populations of hidden malnutrition (GHI, 2014).
• India’s National Health Survey (NFHS-4) results indicate that at the national level 58.5% of children (between ages 10-15) are anaemic and the FAO estimates that ~74% are at risk of anaemia as a result of iron deficiency, and 62 and 31% at risk of vitamin A and iodine deficiency respectively (FAO, 2013).
• According to a study by Sarna et al., (2020), among children aged 5–9 years, anaemia of other causes was the most common (43·6%), followed by folate or vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia (24·6%), iron deficiency anaemia (15·6%), dimorphic anaemia (10·7%), and anaemia of inflammation (5·4%).
• However, in adolescents, 31·4% had anaemia of other causes, 25·6% had folate or vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia, 21·3% had iron deficiency anaemia, 18·2% had dimorphic anaemia, and 3·4% had anaemia of inflammation.

Micronutrient Deficiencies or Hidden Malnutrition are Often Referred to as Hidden Hunger and is a Critical Crisis

• Clinical manifestations of micronutrient deficiency, such as night blindness due to vitamin A deficiency and goitre due to iodine deficiency, become visible once deficiencies become severe.
• However, the health and development of a larger population is affected by less obvious “invisible” effects, the reason why micronutrient deficiencies are often referred to as hidden hunger.

There is No Choice. Hidden Malnutrition or Hidden Hunger Problem Must be Solved

• Hidden malnutrition reduces immunological capacity of an individual which is essential to be maintained at optimal levels to ensure the body’s defence against diseases and prevent recurrent infections.
• Reduced immunological capacities are correlated to diseases and infections leading to the body being deprived of essential nutrients. This leads to the stunted growth of children, adversely affecting a child’s mental and physical development and their future learning capacities (De and Chattopadhyay, 2019).
• Long-term mental impairment, poor health, low productivity, and fatality are some of the devastating consequences of hidden hunger.

Sources

De P, Chattopadhyay N (2019) Effects of malnutrition on child development: Evidence from a backward district of India. Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health, 7(3); 439-445.
Sarna A, Porwal A, Ramesh S, Agarwal P, Acharya R, Johnston R, et al (2020) Characterisation of the types of anaemia prevalent among children and adolescents aged 1–19 years in India: a population-based study. The Lancet; Child and Adolescent Health, 4(7); 515-525.
UNICEF. United Nations Children’s Fund. The State of the World’s Children- Child Survival. UNICEF, New York 2008.
Global Hunger Index, 2014.
India’s National Health Survey (NFHS-4)
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) 2013.
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). 2008. An Introduction to the Basic Concepts of Food Security.
Allen, L., B. de Benoist, O. Dary, R. Hurrell, eds. 2006. Guidelines on Food Fortification with Micronutrients. Geneva: World Health Organization.
WHO (World Health Organization). 2009. Global Prevalence of Vitamin A Deficiency in Populations at Risk 1995–2005: WHO Global Database on Vitamin A Deficiency.