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Mineral supplements reduce child mortality
Issue date: 11/5/09
Adequate nutrition is usually first on any mother's list of priorities for her newborn, and even for herself.
Health experts constantly update mothers-to-be on the importance of prenatal vitamins, and remind new mothers about the importance of providing infants with adequate calcium and vitamins. Food manufacturers endlessly advertise the amounts of nutrients that are packed into their products, with images of colorful fruits and vegetables.
Among nutritionists and health experts, nutrients are categorized as being either macronutrients or micronutrients. While macronutrients include substances like carbohydrates, fats, proteins and water, micronutrients are substances that the body only needs very little of on a daily basis.
However, a lack of micronutrients, like iron, folic acid or vitamins, over a long period of time can cause serious nutrition deficiencies, resulting in severe health problems. This is especially true for children, causing chronic conditions like stunting and wasting.
Micronutrient deficiency plays an especially detrimental role in the poorest parts of the world. Problems like iron deficiency contribute to 50 percent of the risk of anemia for pregnant women and young children. Anemia during pregnancy, in turn, can cause increased risk of perinatal and maternal mortality.
Researchers at the Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health conducted a study from 1999 to 2001 in the Sarlahi District of Nepal on the benefits of micronutrient supplementation among pregnant women. In a recent follow-up study that involved the participants from the original trial, they found a 31 percent reduction in childhood mortality due to maternal supplementation with iron and folic acid supplements, in a setting where maternal iron deficiency and anemia are prevalent.
"In Nepal, we had previously conducted a randomized trial providing rural women different combinations of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) to examine their effects on birth weight and early infant survival. In 2007, we had the unique opportunity and funding to follow the offspring of these women who were now 7-8 [years] old to examine the impact of maternal antenatal supplementation on long term health and other outcomes," said Parul Christian, a professor at the Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and one of the lead researchers in this study.
Health experts constantly update mothers-to-be on the importance of prenatal vitamins, and remind new mothers about the importance of providing infants with adequate calcium and vitamins. Food manufacturers endlessly advertise the amounts of nutrients that are packed into their products, with images of colorful fruits and vegetables.
Among nutritionists and health experts, nutrients are categorized as being either macronutrients or micronutrients. While macronutrients include substances like carbohydrates, fats, proteins and water, micronutrients are substances that the body only needs very little of on a daily basis.
However, a lack of micronutrients, like iron, folic acid or vitamins, over a long period of time can cause serious nutrition deficiencies, resulting in severe health problems. This is especially true for children, causing chronic conditions like stunting and wasting.
Micronutrient deficiency plays an especially detrimental role in the poorest parts of the world. Problems like iron deficiency contribute to 50 percent of the risk of anemia for pregnant women and young children. Anemia during pregnancy, in turn, can cause increased risk of perinatal and maternal mortality.
Researchers at the Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health conducted a study from 1999 to 2001 in the Sarlahi District of Nepal on the benefits of micronutrient supplementation among pregnant women. In a recent follow-up study that involved the participants from the original trial, they found a 31 percent reduction in childhood mortality due to maternal supplementation with iron and folic acid supplements, in a setting where maternal iron deficiency and anemia are prevalent.
"In Nepal, we had previously conducted a randomized trial providing rural women different combinations of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) to examine their effects on birth weight and early infant survival. In 2007, we had the unique opportunity and funding to follow the offspring of these women who were now 7-8 [years] old to examine the impact of maternal antenatal supplementation on long term health and other outcomes," said Parul Christian, a professor at the Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and one of the lead researchers in this study.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
PRAVIN GOSWAMI
posted 11/06/09 @ 10:01 AM EST
What is (CMD) Concentrated Mineral Drops?
CMD is the most powerful, health-giving trace mineral formulated by
nature for greater bio-electric health and body mineral balancing. (Continued…)
CindyFonner
posted 11/06/09 @ 2:46 PM EST
Because of our stressful lifestyle, our bodies are starving for proper nutrition. Taking nutritional health supplements at least helps keep up with what we need. (Continued…)
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