1
|
Headey DD, Alderman H, Hoddinott J, Narayanan S. The glass of milk half-empty? Dairy development and nutrition in low and middle income countries. FOOD POLICY 2024; 122:102585. [PMID: 38314439 PMCID: PMC10831119 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2023.102585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Dairy products have an exceptionally rich nutrient profile and have long been promoted in high income countries to redress child malnutrition. But given all this potential, and the high burden of undernutrition in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), why isn't dairy consumption more actively promoted in the developing world? In this review we focus on a broadly defined concept of "dairy development" to include production, trade, marketing, regulation, and demand stimulation. We address three key questions. First, how strong is the evidence on the importance of dairy production and consumption for improving nutrition among young children in LMICs? Second, which regions have the lowest consumption of dairy products? Third, what are the supply- and demand-side challenges that prevent LMICs from expanding dairy consumption? We argue that although more nutrition- and consumer-oriented dairy development interventions have tremendous potential to redress undernutrition in LMICs, the pathways for achieving this development are highly context-specific: LMICs with significant agroecological potential for dairy production primarily require institutional solutions for the complex marketing challenges in perishable milk value chains; lower potential LMICs require consumer-oriented trade and industrial approaches to the sector's development. And all dairy strategies require a stronger focus on cross-cutting issues of nutrition education and demand creation, food safety and quality, gender and inclusiveness, and environmental sustainability and resilience. We conclude our review by emphasizing important areas for research and policy expansion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Derek D. Headey
- The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), United States
| | - Harold Alderman
- The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), United States
| | - John Hoddinott
- H.E. Babcock Professor of Food & Nutrition Economics and Policy Division of Nutritional Sciences, Applied Economics and Management, United States
| | - Sudha Narayanan
- The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Jain A, Sharma S, Kim R, Subramanian S. Food deprivation among adults in India: an analysis of specific food categories, 2016-2021. EClinicalMedicine 2023; 66:102313. [PMID: 38024478 PMCID: PMC10679480 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Adult undernourishment remains pervasive throughout India, and often results from food deprivation, which refers to the inadequate consumption of foods with caloric and nutrient significance. Therefore, understanding the extent to which food groups are missing from an individual's diet is essential to understanding the extent to which they are undernourished. Methods We used data from two National Family Health Surveys conducted in 2016 and 2021 for this cross-sectional analysis. The study population consisted of women and pregnant women between the ages of 15-49, and men between the ages of 15-54. We examined shifts in the percentage of people not consuming dairy, pulses/beans/legumes, dark leafy green vegetables, fruits, eggs, and fish and meat among women, pregnant women, and men between the two time points. We also examined these patterns by household wealth and education, two important markers of socioeconomic status. Findings Overall, we found that fewer women, pregnant women, and men were not eating each of the six food groups in 2021 than in 2016. Additionally, the gap in food group consumption between women, pregnant women, and men in the lowest and highest socioeconomic groups shrank between 2016 and 2021. Yet, food group deprivation remained most prevalent among those in the lowest socioeconomic groups. The two exceptions for this were for eggs and meat/fish. Nevertheless, the majority of India's poorest and least educated adults are not consuming high-quality protein sources, including dairy, the consumption of which is far more common among wealthier and more educated Indian adults. Interpretation Our results show that fewer adults were not consuming important food groups in 2021 than in 2016. However, many of India's poorest and least educated adults are still not consuming high-quality sources of protein or fruits, two food groups that are essential for good health. While adults might be getting protein and nutrients from pulses, legumes, beans, and other vegetables, efforts are needed to improve affordability of, and access to, high-quality sources of protein and fruits. Funding This work was supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, INV- 002992.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anoop Jain
- Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St. Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Smriti Sharma
- Tata Trusts, R.K. Khanna Tennis Stadium, Africa Avenue, New Delhi, India
| | - Rockli Kim
- Division of Health Policy & Management, College of Health Science, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, South Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program in Precision Public Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School of Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - S.V. Subramanian
- Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Koller A, Rohrmann S, Wakolbinger M, Gojda J, Selinger E, Cahova M, Světnička M, Haider S, Schlesinger S, Kühn T, Keller JW. Health aspects of vegan diets among children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analyses. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2023:1-12. [PMID: 37811643 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2023.2263574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Health effects of vegan diets among children and adolescents are a controversial public health topic. Thus, the aim of the present systematic review is to evaluate a broad range of health outcomes among vegan children and adolescents aged 0 to 18 years. 18 studies met the inclusion criteria (17 cross-sectional, 1 RCT). Meta-analyses showed lower protein, calcium, vitamin B2, saturated fatty acid, and cholesterol intakes, and lower ferritin, HDL and LDL levels as well as height in vegan compared to omnivorous children/adolescents. Higher intakes of carbohydrates, polyunsaturated fatty acids, fiber, folate, vitamins C and E, magnesium, iron, and potassium were observed in vegans. Blood levels of vitamin B12 were higher among vegan children due to supplement use. Single study results suggested further differences between vegan and non-vegan children, such as lower bone mineral content or urinary iodine among vegan children. Risk of Bias was rated as high or very high in 7 out of 18 studies. The certainty of evidence for the meta-analyses was low (n = 2) or very low (n = 46). Overall, the available evidence points to both risks and benefits associated with a vegan diet among children, although more and better designed studies are needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alina Koller
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sabine Rohrmann
- Division of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Maria Wakolbinger
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jan Gojda
- Department of Internal Medicine, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Královské Vinohrady University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eliška Selinger
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Centre for Public Health Promotion, The National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Monika Cahova
- Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Světnička
- Department of Internal Medicine, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Královské Vinohrady University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
- Centre for Research on Diabetes Metabolism, and Nutrition of Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Královské Vinohrady, and Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Sandra Haider
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sabrina Schlesinger
- German Diabetes Center, Institute for Biometrics and Epidemiology, Düsseldorf, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Partner Düsseldorf, Munich-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Tilman Kühn
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH), Heidelberg, Germany
- The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Haile B, Headey D. Growth in milk consumption and reductions in child stunting: Historical evidence from cross-country panel data. FOOD POLICY 2023; 118:102485. [PMID: 37547490 PMCID: PMC10400883 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2023.102485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Agricultural and food policies are increasingly being tasked with doing more to improve the nutritional status of low-income populations, especially reductions in child stunting. Which specific food sectors warrant additional policy attention is less clear, although a growing body of research argues that increased animal-sourced food consumption in general, and increased dairy consumption specifically, can significantly reduce the risks of stunting, as well as deficiencies in micronutrients and high quality protein. However, experimental research on dairy's impacts on child growth in developing countries is very limited, and non-experimental evidence is confined to cross-sectional surveys. In this study we adopt a more macro lens by using a cross-country panel to show that increases in milk consumption over time are associated with large reductions in child stunting even after controlling for important confounding factors. Countries with high rates of stunting should therefore consider nutrition-sensitive strategies to increase dairy consumption among young children through both supply- and demand-side interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beliyou Haile
- International Food Policy Research Institute, Environment and Production Technology Division, Eye Street, 1201 I St NW, Washington, DC 20005, United States
| | - Derek Headey
- International Food Policy Research Institute, Development Strategy and Governance Division, Eye Street, 1201 I St NW, Washington, DC 20005, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ricardo LIC, Gatica-Domínguez G, Neves PAR, Vaz JDS, Barros AJD, Wehrmeister FC. Sociodemographic inequalities in vegetables, fruits, and animal source foods consumption in children aged 6-23 months from 91 LMIC. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1046686. [PMID: 36866060 PMCID: PMC9972219 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1046686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction No multi-country analysis described patterns and inequalities for the brand-new feeding indicators proposed by WHO/UNICEF: zero consumption of vegetables and fruits (ZVF) and consumption of eggs and/or flesh (EFF). Our aim was to describe patterns in the prevalence and social inequalities of ZVF and EFF among children aged 6-23 months in low-and middle-income countries. Methods Data from nationally representative surveys (2010-2019) in 91 low-and middle-income countries were used to investigate within-country disparities in ZVF and EFF by place of residence, wealth quintiles, child sex and child age. The slope index of inequality was used to assess socioeconomic inequalities. Analyses were also pooled by World Bank income groups. Results The prevalence of ZVF was 44.8% and it was lowest in children from upper-middle income countries, from urban areas, and those 18-23 months. The slope index of inequality showed that socioeconomic inequalities in the prevalence of ZVF were higher among poor children in comparison to richest children (mean SII = -15.3; 95%CI: -18.5; -12.1). Overall, 42.1% of children consumed egg and/or flesh foods. Being a favorable indicator, findings for EFF were generally in the opposite direction than for ZVF. The prevalence was highest in children from upper-middle income countries, from urban areas, and those 18-23 months of age. The slope index of inequality showed pro-rich patterns in most countries (mean SII = 15.4; 95%CI: 12.2; 18.6). Discussion Our findings demonstrate that inequalities exist in terms of household wealth, place of residence, and age of the child in the prevalence of the new complementary feeding indicators. Moreover, children from low-and lower-middle countries had the lowest consumption of fruits, vegetables, eggs, and flesh foods. Such findings provide new insights towards effective approaches to tackle the malnutrition burden through optimal feeding practices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luiza I. C. Ricardo
- International Center for Equity in Health, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | | | - Paulo A. R. Neves
- International Center for Equity in Health, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | | | - Aluisio J. D. Barros
- International Center for Equity in Health, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Jain A, Wang W, James KS, Sarwal R, Kim R, Subramanian SV. Small Area Variations in Dietary Diversity Among Children in India: A Multilevel Analysis of 6–23-Month-Old Children. Front Nutr 2022; 8:791509. [PMID: 35252284 PMCID: PMC8890590 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.791509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Dietary diversity is an important indicator of child malnutrition. However, little is known about the geographic variation of diet indicators across India, particularly within districts and across states. As such, the purpose of this paper was to elucidate the small area variations in diet indicators between clusters within districts of India. Overall, we found that clusters were the largest source of variation for children not eating grains, roots, and tubers, legumes and nuts, dairy, vitamin A-rich vegetables and fruits, and other vegetables and fruits. We also found positive correlations between the district percent and cluster standard deviations of children not breastfeeding or eating grains, roots, and tubers, but negative correlations between the district percent and cluster standard deviation for the remaining seven outcomes. These findings underscore the importance of targeting clusters to improve child dietary diversity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anoop Jain
- Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Weiyu Wang
- Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - K. S. James
- International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, India
| | - Rakesh Sarwal
- National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, Government of India, New Delhi, India
| | - Rockli Kim
- Division of Health Policy and Management, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Rockli Kim
| | - S. V. Subramanian
- Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, Cambridge, MA, United States
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
- S. V. Subramanian
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Kashyap S, Shivakumar N, Sejian V, Deutz NEP, Preston T, Sreeman S, Devi S, Kurpad AV. Goat milk protein digestibility in relation to intestinal function. Am J Clin Nutr 2021; 113:845-853. [PMID: 33677496 PMCID: PMC8023838 DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqaa400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Milk is an important high-quality animal protein source in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Although the true ileal digestibility and absorption of milk has been shown to be high in French adults, this may be lower in individuals from LMICs who are at risk of environmental enteropathy. OBJECTIVE To determine the true ileal indispensable amino acid (IAA) digestibility of intrinsically labeled goat milk protein in South Indian women of reproductive age (WRA), using the dual-isotope tracer technique, and to measure intestinal absorption of amino acid and inert sugar in the same participants using L-allo-isoleucine and a dual-sugar assay. METHODS Milk with 2H-labeled protein collected from a lactating goat fed intrinsically 2H-labeled fodder (maize and cowpea) was spray dried. Labeled milk protein was administered in a plateau feeding protocol to WRA with normal BMI, in whom urinary lactulose and mannitol recovery and the lactulose/mannitol ratio (LMR) were measured, to determine its true ileal IAA digestibility by the dual-isotope tracer technique with a reference U-13C-amino acid mixture. A phenylalanine absorption index was calculated from the plasma to meal ratio of 13C9 phenylalanine within the digestibility protocol. On a separate day, the allo-isoleucine absorption index was estimated from the ratio of plasma allo-isoleucine enrichments after oral 13C6-15N-L- and intravenous 2H10-L-allo-isoleucine administration. RESULTS The means ± SDs of true ileal IAA digestibility of goat milk protein, lactulose and mannitol recovery, LMR, allo-isoleucine and phenylalanine absorption index were 94.0 ± 2.9%, 0.09 ± 0.03%, 7.9 ± 2.3%, 0.012 ± 0.004, 88.4 ± 3.8% and 24.5 ± 1.6%, respectively. The LMR correlated with the allo-isoleucine absorption index (rs = -0.93, P = 0.008). CONCLUSION The true ileal digestibility of goat milk protein in South Indian WRA with normal intestinal absorptive function and integrity was comparable to earlier estimates in healthy French adults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sindhu Kashyap
- Division of Nutrition, St. John's Research Institute, St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India
| | - Nirupama Shivakumar
- Division of Nutrition, St. John's Research Institute, St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India
| | - Veerasamy Sejian
- ICAR—National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Adugodi, Bangalore, India
| | - Nicolaas E P Deutz
- Center for Translational Research in Aging and Longevity, Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Thomas Preston
- Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, East Kilbride, Scotland, UK
| | - Sheshshayee Sreeman
- Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India
| | - Sarita Devi
- Division of Nutrition, St. John's Research Institute, St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India
| | - Anura V Kurpad
- Division of Nutrition, St. John's Research Institute, St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India
- Department of Physiology, St. John's Medical College, St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ryckman T, Beal T, Nordhagen S, Murira Z, Torlesse H. Affordability of nutritious foods for complementary feeding in South Asia. Nutr Rev 2021; 79:52-68. [PMID: 33693914 PMCID: PMC7948078 DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuaa139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The high prevalence of stunting and micronutrient deficiencies among children in South Asia has lifelong health, educational, and economic consequences. For children aged 6-23 months, undernutrition is influenced by inadequate intake of complementary foods containing nutrients critical for growth and development. The affordability of nutrients lacking in young children's diets in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan was assessed in this study. Using data from nutrient gap assessments and household surveys, household food expenditures were compared with the cost of purchasing foods that could fill nutrient gaps. In all 3 countries, there are multiple affordable sources of vitamin A (orange-fleshed vegetables, dark leafy greens, liver), vitamin B12 (liver, fish, milk), and folate (dark leafy greens, liver, legumes, okra); few affordable sources of iron and calcium (dark leafy greens); and no affordable sources of zinc. Affordability of animal-source protein varies, with several options in Pakistan (fish, chicken, eggs, beef) and India (fish, eggs, milk) but few in Bangladesh (eggs). Approaches to reduce prices, enhance household production, or increase incomes are needed to improve affordability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Ryckman
- Center for Health Policy and the Center for Primary Care and Outcomes Research, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Ty Beal
- Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | | | - Zivai Murira
- United Nations Children’s Fund, Regional Office for South Asia, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Harriet Torlesse
- United Nations Children’s Fund, Regional Office for South Asia, Kathmandu, Nepal
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Raghunathan K, Headey D, Herforth A. Affordability of nutritious diets in rural India. FOOD POLICY 2021; 99:101982. [PMID: 33746340 PMCID: PMC7957322 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2020.101982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
In 2015-16 some 38% of preschool children in India were stunted, 21% wasted, and more than half of Indian mothers and young children were anemic. Though widely studied, surprisingly little research on malnutrition in India explores the role of diets, particularly the affordability of nutritious diets given low wages and the significant structural problems facing India's agricultural sector. To explore this we used nationally representative rural price and wage data to estimate the least cost means of satisfying India's national dietary guidelines, referred to as the Cost of a Recommended Diet (CoRD), and assessed the affordability of this diet relative to male and female wages for unskilled laborers. Although we find that dietary costs have increased substantially for both men and women, rural wage rates increased more rapidly, implying that nutritious diets became substantially more affordable over time. However, in absolute terms nutritious diets in 2011 were still expensive relative to unskilled wages, constituting approximately 80-90% of female and 50-60% of male daily wages. Overall, we estimate that 63-76% of the rural poor could not afford a recommended diet in 2011. Achieving nutritional security in India requires a much more holistic focus on improving the affordability of the full range of nutritious food groups (not just cereals), a reappraisal of social protection schemes in light of the cost of more complete nutrition, ensuring that economic growth results in sustained income growth for the poor, and more timely and transparent monitoring of food prices, incomes and dietary costs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kalyani Raghunathan
- Poverty, Health and Nutrition Division, International Food Policy Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Derek Headey
- Poverty, Health and Nutrition Division, International Food Policy Research Institute, Yangon, Myanmar
| | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Clark DC, Cifelli CJ, Pikosky MA. Growth and Development of Preschool Children (12-60 Months): A Review of the Effect of Dairy Intake. Nutrients 2020; 12:E3556. [PMID: 33233555 PMCID: PMC7699766 DOI: 10.3390/nu12113556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Undernutrition in young children is a global health issue. The ability to meet energy and nutrient needs during this critical stage of development is necessary, not only to achieve physical and mental potential but also socio-economic achievement later in life. Given ongoing discussions regarding optimization of dietary patterns to support achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations, it is important to identify foods/food groups that have shown efficacy in reducing the negative impacts of undernutrition in young children. This narrative review addresses the impact of dairy intake, with a focus on linear growth, cognitive development and weight gain in early childhood (12-60 months). The impact of country economic status is also examined, to help elucidate regional specific recommendations and/or future research needs. Overall, the body of research addressing this age group is somewhat limited. Based on the data available, there is a positive association between dairy intake and linear growth. The impact of milk or dairy products on cognitive development is less clear due to a lack of evidence and is a gap in the literature that should be addressed. Regarding the impact on body weight, the majority of evidence suggests there is either no association or an inverse association between milk intake by preschool children on overweight and obesity later in life. This evidence is exclusively in high income countries, however, so additional work in lower income countries may be warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David C. Clark
- Bovina Mountain Consulting LLC, Englewood, FL 34223, USA;
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Kurpad AV, Thomas T. Protein Quality and its Food Source in the Diets of Young Indian Children. J Nutr 2020; 150:1350-1351. [PMID: 32359143 DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxaa100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 03/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anura V Kurpad
- Department of Physiology, St John's Medical College, Bengaluru, India
| | - Tinku Thomas
- Department of Biostatistics, St John's Medical College, Bengaluru, India
| |
Collapse
|