Strategies to Combat Micronutrient Deficiencies: A Review

Over 3 billion people all over the world are affected by micronutrient deficiencies especially in developing countries. Individual human potential is hindered by micronutrient deficiencies adversely affecting national, social and economic development. Various short and long term strategies have been used in different countries to combat micronutrient deficiencies. Feeding programmes often fail to address problems of micronutrient deficiency as budgets do not allow micronutrient rich foods to be included in meals. Recent technological advancements include various strategies to alleviate micronutrient deficiencies like fortification, bio-fortification and genome wide association studies which lead to improvements in micronutrient content of foods. Every human being requires essential micronutrients to sustain their lives and these micronutrients are obtained from diet only. Food based strategies require an innovative approach to promote dietary diversification, decrease nutritional losses and increase nutritional bioavailability. Efforts by many developing countries have shown that food based strategies are cost effective and a sustainable solution for alleviating the problem of micronutrient deficiencies in populations. Strategies to alleviate the problem of micronutrient deficiency would essentially fail to make an impact unless adequate attention is given to preventing communicable diseases like diarrhoea, reducing morbidity and improving basic health care facilities. There are several advantages with booming food based strategies like improving nutritional well being of individuals, incomes of the individuals, providing access to and availability of a various micronutrient-rich foods which further will lead to improved micronutrient status of not only individuals but as well as for the community also on the whole.