Background: Micronutrient deficiencies in Latin America are a public health concern, nonetheless, lack of information still exists in many countries, so that the true magnitude of the problem remains uncertain.
Objective: To summarise experiences that can inform the development of policies and programs to address micronutrient deficiencies throung supplementation in pregnant women and chlidren under five years of age in Latin American.
Methods: Review of the most evidence on the effects of micronutrients supplementation, focusing on pregnant women and children under five years of age.
Results: Certain population groups, as women of reproductive age and children under 2 years of age, are at increased risk for deficiency due to their high micronutrient requirements. This is compounded by the limited access to micronutrient-rich foods for many people living in vulnerable situations. Micronutrient supplementation is an effective intervention to prevent and treat deficiency and to mitigate its adverse effects on health, nutrition, and pregnancy outcomes in micronutrient-deficient populations. The potential benefits of supplementation programs, however, are realized only when they reach those who have the potential to benefit, that is, with inadequate intakes of micronutrients from dietary sources, and when the quality of design and delivery of the programs aresufficient to reach that population timely, regularly, and effectively to enable and motivate consumption.
Conclusions: Several resources and experiences exist that can help favor the development of programs that can realize this biological and programmatic potential. There is need for continuous efforts to augment coverage and achieve results that can translate into economic benefits for individuals, families, and nations.
Keywords: Latin America; deficiency; micronutrients; program; supplementation.
Plain language titleCorrecting Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies in Pregnant Women and Children in Latin AmericaPlain language summaryPrevious articles in this supplement have highlighted the importance of micronutrient (vitamin and mineral) deficiencies in Latin America, their causes and effects in different population groups, and some alternatives for their prevention and control. At certain stages of life, particularly during the first 1000 days (from pregnancy to 2 years of age), high nutrient requirements predispose to nutritional deficiencies. This is exacerbated by the limited access to healthy foods for populations living in vulnerable situations. Dietary supplements are therefore an effective strategy for preventing and treating deficiencies and mitigating their adverse effects on the nutrition and health of the population. In this article, we review the most recent estimates on the prevalence of nutrient deficiencies, with a focus on pregnant women and children under 2 years of age; the types of supplements available, and the international recommendations for supplementation during this period of life. There is strong evidence for several benefits of short-term supplementation. In pregnant women, vitamin and mineral levels are improved and a healthy pregnancy is achieved. In children, vitamin and mineral levels are also improved, and some (such as iron and zinc) improve growth and development. In the long term, there are economic benefits for individuals, families, and nations. Several recommendations from studies and supplementation programs are also discussed. Although nutritional supplementation can be cost-effective, benefits will only be achieved if the types and formulations of supplements meet the assessed nutritional needs of the population and if a program is properly designed and implemented. Similarly, programs that include supplements need to be monitored and evaluated to ensure that supplements are taken regularly and for long enough to achieve these benefits.