Definition: Undernutrition occurs when individuals have inadequate consumption or absorption of one or more nutrients, either micro- or macronutrients. Macronutrients are substances needed for growth, metabolism, and for other body functions, which include proteins, carbohydrates or fats. Micronutrients are nutrients needed in very small amounts and are essential for normal growth and development, for example a vitamin or mineral.
The Problem
More than 2 billion people suffer from undernutrition. (i)
Individuals suffering from undernutrition may exhibit few, if any, visible symptoms, especially when caused by a lack of micronutrients. This is why undernutrition is sometimes called “hidden hunger.”
Children under five and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers are the most vulnerable to undernutrition caused by a lack of micronutrients.[ii] In order to support a child’s rapidly developing body and mind, a regular supply of nutritious foods is vital. Even though staple foods can provide enough calories, these foods often do not provide sufficient nutrients an individual needs for optimal growth and development.
Undernutrition often passes from one generation to the next. In addition to preventing the healthy growth and development of an infant’s body and mind, poor nutrition during pregnancy can threaten the life of the baby.[iii] Poorly nourished mothers give birth to children who are unable to reach their full potential, and thus continue the cycle with their own children.[iv]
Who is at risk?: Children under five years and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers are the most vulnerable to undernutrition caused by a lack of micronutrients.[v]
Scope of problem:
- More than 2 billion people suffer from undernutrition.[vi]
- Undernutrition causes 45% of child deaths, resulting in 3.1 million deaths annually.[vii]
Causes:
- Undernutrition has many social and cultural causes, but at the level of the individual, it is associated with two primary determinants:
- Quantity of nutrition: referring to the amount of food consumed, absorbed and/or assimilated, which correlates with available calories (i.e. macronutrients) that powers our bodies and sustains life, and
- Quality of nutrition: referring to the nutrient content (i.e., micronutrients), which correlates with the availability of building blocks needed for proper growth, development, function, and resistance to infection.
- Poverty, food insecurity, lack of opportunity, limited resources, and even political instability can impact a child’s nutritional status.
- Most vitamins must be consumed in food, and are not produced by the body. When a child cannot regularly eat a variety of healthy foods, fortified foods, or does not take a vitamin supplement, he or she may become micronutrient deficient.
The Solution
Making vitamins available to undernourished children is one of the most immediate and cost-effective ways to improve their health.[viii] Vitamins save lives and result in healthier children with fewer illnesses.
By addressing nutritional gaps during their key developmental years, we are helping children build the foundation for good health that will allow them to reach their full potential.[ix]
Approach: Addressing undernutrition requires a multi-faceted approach, including:
- Increasing access to more and better food,
- Fortifying staple food supplies,
- Vitamin supplementation,
- Encouraging early and exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding practices, and
- Infection prevention practices to reduce childhood infections.
Why Vitamins?
- Vitamin and mineral supplementation for pregnant women and children under five years of age is a proven solution to alleviating undernutrition.[x]
- Vitamins help mothers give birth to vibrant babies, help children build strong immune systems, and give children the chance at healthy and productive lives. In the most critical situations, vitamins can save lives.[xi]
- Evidence strongly suggests that use of a daily prenatal vitamin (formulated as prescribed by WHO, UNICEF and UNU) reduces the occurrence of low birth weight babies, babies that are small for gestational age, and stillbirths.[xii]
- In order to support a child’s rapidly developing body and mind, good nutrition is vital.[xiii]
Vitamin Angels’ Impact
- In 2016, Vitamin Angels reached 51 million children in 57 countries including in the U.S. [with lifesaving and life changing vitamins and minerals].
- Vitamin Angels is a 501c3 charity working to improve child and maternal health by distributing vitamins and minerals to at-risk populations worldwide/across the U.S. and in 60 countries worldwide.
- Undernutrition is a big problem; it’s the underlying cause of 45% of all child deaths annually.[xiv] While there is no single cure, there is a simple solution that is making a huge impact – vitamins. Vitamin Angels distributes critically needed vitamins and minerals to undernourished children and mothers worldwide. We’re also helping educate moms about the importance of breastfeeding and proper nutrition, and helping reduce infections with deworming treatments for young children.
Sources:
(i) “More than 2 billion people in the world today are estimated to be deficient in key vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin A, iodine, iron and zinc.” Preventing and controlling micronutrient deficiencies in populations affected by an emergency. Joint statement by the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme and the United Nations Children’s Fund. 2006. AND “Hidden hunger, also known as micronutrient deficiencies, afflicts more than 2 billion individuals, or one in three people, globally.” FAO. 2013. The State of Food and Agriculture. Rome. http://bit.ly/KAn84P.
[ii] “Children under five and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers are the most vulnerable to hidden hunger. In order to support a child’s rapidly developing body and mind, a regular supply of nutritious foods is vital.” Preventing and controlling micronutrient deficiencies in populations affected by an emergency. WHO, WFP, UNICEF, March 2006. http://www.unicef.org/nutrition/files/Joint_Statement_Micronutrients_March_2006.pdf
[iii] Haider BA, Bhutta ZA. Multiple-micronutrient supplementation for women during pregnancy The Cochrane Collaboration. 2015, Issue 11.
[iv] “The devastating impact of undernutrition spans generations, as poorly nourished women are more likely to suffer difficult pregnancies and give birth to undernourished children themselves.” State of the World’s Mothers 2012. Save the Children.
[v] “Children under five and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers are the most vulnerable to hidden hunger. In order to support a child’s rapidly developing body and mind, a regular supply of nutritious foods is vital.” Preventing and controlling micronutrient deficiencies in populations affected by an emergency. WHO, WFP, UNICEF, March 2006. http://www.unicef.org/nutrition/files/Joint_Statement_Micronutrients_March_2006.pdf
[vi] “More than 2 billion people in the world today are estimated to be deficient in key vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin A, iodine, iron and zinc.” Preventing and controlling micronutrient deficiencies in populations affected by an emergency. Joint statement by the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme and the United Nations Children’s Fund. 2006. AND “Hidden hunger, also known as micronutrient deficiencies, afflicts more than 2 billion individuals, or one in three people, globally.” FAO. 2013. The State of Food and Agriculture. Rome. http://bit.ly/KAn84P.
[vii] p. 15 ‘Undernutrition, including fetal growth restriction, suboptimum breastfeeding, stunting, wasting, and deficiencies of vitamin A and zinc, cause 45% of child deaths, resulting in 3·1 million deaths annually. ‘Maternal and Child Nutrition 1: Maternal and child undernutrition and overweight in low-income and middle-income countries. The Lancet, 2013: Volume 382, Issue 9890, Pages 427 – 451. Black RE, Victora CG, Walker SP, Bhutta ZA, Christian P, et. al. and the Maternal and Child Nutrition Study Group.
[viii] “The 2008 Copenhagen Consensus ranked micronutrient supplements for children (vitamin A and zinc) as the #1 priority for addressing the world’s greatest challenges, based on the costs and benefits of the solution.” Copenhagen Consensus 2008-Results http://www.copenhagenconsensus.com/sites/default/files/cc08_results_final_0.pdf
[ix] “Investments in improving nutrition for mothers and children in the first 1,000 days will yield real payoffs both in lives saved and in healthier, more stable and productive populations.” P12 State of the World’s Mothers 2012. Save the Children.
[x] Essential Nutrition Actions Improving Maternal-Newborn-Infant and Young Child Health and Nutrition. WHO. 13 May 2011. http://www.who.int/nutrition/EB128_18_backgroundpaper2_A_reviewofhealthinterventionswithaneffectonnutrition.pdf
[xi] “The results of 17 of the studies were summarised and indicate that vitamin A reduces the overall risk of death by 24%.” Imdad A., Herzer K., Mayo-Wilson E., Yakoob M.Y, and Bhutta Z.A. Vitamin A supplementation for preventing morbidity and mortality in children from 6 months to 5 years of age. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2010, Issue 12. p. 2. Art. No.: CD008524. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD008524.pub2.
[xii] “MMN resulted in a significant decrease in the number of newborn infants identified as low birthweight (LBW) (risk ratio (RR) 0.88, 95%confidence interval (CI) 0.85 to 0.91; high quality evidence) or small-for-gestational age (SGA) (average RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.97; moderate-quality evidence), and a reduced rate of stillbirth (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.85 to 0.98; high-quality evidence).”
Haider BA, Bhutta ZA. Multiple-micronutrient supplementation for women during pregnancy The Cochrane Collaboration. 2015, Issue 11.”
[xiii] “Good nutrition during the critical 1,000-day window from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday is crucial to developing a child’s cognitive capacity and physical growth.” P2 State of the World’s Mothers 2012. Save the Children.
[xiv] p. 15 ‘Undernutrition, including fetal growth restriction, suboptimum breastfeeding, stunting, wasting, and deficiencies of vitamin A and zinc, cause 45% of child deaths, resulting in 3·1 million deaths annually. ‘Maternal and Child Nutrition 1: Maternal and child undernutrition and overweight in low-income and middle-income countries. The Lancet, 2013: Volume 382, Issue 9890, Pages 427 – 451. Robert E Black, Cesar G Victora, Susan P Walker, Zulfiqar A Bhutta*, Parul Christian*, Mercedes de Onis*, Majid Ezzati*, Sally Grantham-McGregor*, Joanne Katz*, Reynaldo Martorell*, Ricardo Uauy*, and the Maternal and Child Nutrition Study Group