More and more
Filipino schoolchildren suffer from inadequate nutrition
Micronutrient
deficiency in PH:
When
the smallest matters most
By their very
name, micronutrients are vitamins and minerals that are needed only in very
small amounts, but their impact on our health is huge.
Micronutrients like
iron, zinc, Vitamin A, and many others are responsible for the vital
functioning of our body’s systems, from physical growth and vision, to brain vigor
and increased immunity. When the body fails to receive the small quantities of
micronutrients that it needs, serious health problems can result in a condition
widely regarded as micronutrient deficiency or “hidden hunger”.
The nutritional
makeup of the Philippines continues to be characterized by the severity of
micronutrient deficiency. According to the Food and Nutrition Research
Institute- Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), 70-90 percent of
Filipinos lack iron and Vitamin A in their usual diet.
Two out of ten schoolchildren
suffer from iron deficiency anemia, and the incident rises with age. Following
closely are those lacking adequate amounts of Vitamin A in their diet. One out of ten from the same group is Vitamin
A deficient.
The same study
also shows that two out of ten children are zinc deficient. Zinc is a trace
mineral that plays a role in body metabolism, reproductive health, immune
function, and more than 200 important chemical reactions in the body.
Inadequate
intake of these three important micronutrients may lead to several nutritional problems,
including stunting, fatigue, poor concentration, lack of focus and other signs
of impaired physical and cognitive development. These may be reflected among schoolchildren
who suffer from poor mental and physical performance and frequent absenteeism
as a result of impaired immunity. It is also important to have plenty of
Vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant that boosts immunity, prevents
cardiovascular disease, and contributes to healthy skin, among many other benefits.
“Making the
right food choices is one of the ways to address the problems of micronutrient
deficiency,” said Dr. Imelda Agdeppa, Assistant Scientist of FNRI-DOST.
“Unfortunately, the inaccessibility of food and money in the majority of
Filipino households puts many families at a high risk of getting sick. The good
news is there are many products in the market that are affordable and fortified
with these micronutrients, and many families are already benefiting from
these.”
Experts from
FNRI recommend that when there is an inadequate intake of these nutrients, the
consumption of foods that are fortified particularly
with the three micronutrients primarily lacking in the Filipino diet—Vitamin A,
Iron, and Zinc—is encouraged so as to
address nutrient gap.
In response to
this dietary concern, Nestlé Philippines is intensifying its campaign to promote
nutritious and affordable sources of important nutrients especially needed by
children, such as BEAR BRAND Powdered Milk Drink. It is fortified with tibay resistensya nutrients like Iron, Zinc,
and Vitamin C plus Calcium that kids need for proper growth and to perform well
in school.
