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Combating Micronutrient Deficiencies: Pharmaceuticals and Food Fortification

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Transformation of Agri-Food Systems

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Abstract

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies is a significant risk factor in the global burden of disease. Widely practiced strategies to address these deficiencies are supplementation and food fortification. The focus of this article is on global and national evidence base for the success of pharmaceutical supplementation and food fortification as strategies in preventing and controlling micronutrient deficiencies. Both these strategies have been found to impact in preventing and controlling dietary deficiencies of micronutrients. Food fortification demands country specific regulation based on standards and extent of spread of deficit in specific micronutrients, evidence base for impact, demand and availability, introduction of mandatory or voluntary and needs careful contextual consideration. Continuous monitoring using biomarkers and taking contextual corrective steps such as redesigning and withdrawing low impact interventions should form integral part of the policy system. The present evidences on certain micronutrients appear to be inadequate to formulate guidelines either for or against the use of single or multi vitamins and minerals supplements to prevent chronic diseases. Consideration for other public health strategies such as point of use fortification with multiple micronutrient powder (MNP) sachet for children and multiple micronutrient supplement (MMS) for pregnant women merits consideration for large scale trials. An attempt has been made to understand the challenges, knowledge gaps and research priorities in the area.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Former Scientist-F, ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

    K. Madhavan Nair

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  1. K. Madhavan Nair
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Formerly at ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, India

    K. C. Bansal

  2. Formerly at ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai, India

    W. S. Lakra

  3. ICAR- DARE, Government of India, New Delhi, India

    Himanshu Pathak

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Nair, K.M. (2023). Combating Micronutrient Deficiencies: Pharmaceuticals and Food Fortification. In: Bansal, K.C., Lakra, W.S., Pathak, H. (eds) Transformation of Agri-Food Systems . Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-8014-7_9

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