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Objectives To provide an overview of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions that could improve micronutrient status of women of reproductive age. Methods This narrative review has a special focus on Southeast Asia, as the work was undertaken within the framework of the SMILING (Sustainable Micronutrient Interventions to controL deficiencies and Improve Nutrition status and General health in Southeast Asia) project. Results In order for new interventions to become accepted, comprehension and interpretation of potential impact of different strategies by policymakers and non-nutritionists is needed. By presenting a wide overview of strategies, and discussing the context and current consensus on these strategies, the review aims to help with the formulation of new recommendations for national programs in Southeast Asia. Conclusions Current policies in Southeast Asia to improve micronutrient status of women of reproductive age are focused too much on single micronutrient supplementation for pregnant women (iron and folic acid supplements). A more holistic approach, including both nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions, is needed., Author(s): Marjoleine A. Dijkhuizen [sup.1] , Valerie Greffeille [sup.2] , Nanna Roos [sup.1] , Jacques Berger [sup.2] , Frank T. Wieringa [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (Aff1) 0000 0001 0674 042X, grid.5254.6, [...]

Objectives Micronutrient deficiencies, in southeast Asia (SE Asia), remain a public health challenge. We evaluated whether promoting the consumption of locally available nutritious foods, which is a low-risk micronutrient intervention, alone can ensure dietary adequacy, for women of reproductive age and 6-23 m old children. Methods Representative dietary data from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam were analysed using linear programming analysis to identify nutrients that are likely low in personal food environments (problem nutrients), and to formulate food-based recommendations (FBRs) for three to six target populations per country. Results The number of problem nutrients ranged from zero for 12-23 m olds in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam to six for pregnant women in Cambodia. The FBRs selected for each target population, if adopted, would ensure a low percentage of the population was at risk of inadequate intakes for five to ten micronutrients, depending on the country and target population. Of the 11 micronutrients modelled, requirements for iron, calcium and folate were most difficult to meet ([greater than or equal to] 10 of the 24 target populations), using FBRs alone. The number of individual FBRs selected per set, for each target population, ranged from three to eight; and often included meat, fish or eggs, liver/organ meats, vegetables and fruits. Conclusions for practice Intervention strategies need to increase access to nutritious foods, including products fortified with micronutrients, in SE Asia, when aiming to ensure dietary adequacy for most individuals in the population., Author(s): Elaine L. Ferguson [sup.1] , Louise Watson [sup.1] , Jacques Berger [sup.2] , Mary Chea [sup.3] , Uraiporn Chittchang [sup.4] , Umi Fahmida [sup.5] , Kuong Khov [sup.6] , [...]

Objective The SMILING (Sustainable Micronutrient Interventions to Control Deficiencies and Improve Nutritional Status and General Health in Asia) project aimed at creating awareness and improving policies around micronutrient deficiencies in five Southeast Asian countries (Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia). Results The project showed large gaps in recent data on micronutrient status in most of the five countries. By updating existing, or creating national food composition tables, the SMILING project enabled analyses of food consumption in women of reproductive age and young children. Linear programming showed a high risk for multiple micronutrient deficiencies in these groups, and especially in pregnant women. Most programs to improve micronutrient status target iodine, iron and vitamin A deficiency. However, the high prevalence of zinc, vitamin D, thiamine and folate deficiency in the region warrant interventions too. For certain micronutrients (zinc, iron, calcium), dietary changes alone appeared not enough to fulfill requirements. Food fortification was identified to be a sustainable, long-term solution to improve micronutrient intake. Multiple criteria mapping by stakeholders in each country resulted in a list of country-specific priority interventions. Surprisingly, food fortification was ranked low, due to concerns on quality control and organoleptic changes of the fortified food. More advocacy is needed for new, innovative interventions such as delayed cord clamping. Conclusions for practice The SMILING project recommends regular surveys to monitor micronutrient status of population, to measure impact of interventions and to guide nutrition policies., Author(s): Jacques Berger [sup.1] , Nanna Roos [sup.2] , Valérie Greffeuille [sup.1] , Marjoleine Dijkhuizen [sup.2] , Frank Wieringa [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (Aff1) Institute of Research for Development (IRD), UMR [...]

We estimated how micronutrient needs of young children, aged 6-24 months were covered by the standard (traditional) diets in Ghana and Benin, and the contributions of partial breastfeeding and national nutrition programs aimed at improving micronutrient status to overall micronutrient intakes. Estimates of micronutrient intake from standard diets were based on previous surveys, using the food composition table of West Africa (INFOOD). Recommended micronutrient intakes were based on World Health Organization recommendations. Children were grouped in three age groups (6-8, 9-12, and 13-24 months) to capture the changing dynamics of the complementary feeding period. As expected, from 6 months of age onwards, breastmilk didn't cover the micronutrient needs. The standard diets contributed only minimal to micronutrient intakes of children ranging from 0% to 37% of recommended intakes for Ca, Fe, Zn, vitamin A, vitamin D and iodine depending on the micronutrient considered. The contribution of mass (bio)- fortification programs to the coverage of micronutrient needs varied widely, depending on the staple food considered and the country, but overall did not allow to fill the gap in micronutrient needs of children except for vitamin A in some contexts. In contrast, consumption of voluntary fortified complementary food, especially formulated for the needs in this age groups, contributed substantially to overall micronutrient intake and could fill the gap for several micronutrients. The development of young child-targeted programs including micronutrient-dense foods, associated with interventions to increase the diet diversity and meal frequency, could significantly improve micronutrients intakes of children in both Ghana and Benin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]