Estimating bio-availability of zinc and iron from home-available complementary foods in Pakistan: A study in young infants using stable isotopes

Although the widespread prevalence of malnutrition in south Asia is well recognized, the extent and severity of micronutrient deficiencies is less well appreciate. Although significant iron deficiency is almost ubiquitous, and iron deficiency anemia is widespread the extent and severity of vitamin A and zinc deficiency is less well appreciated. While poor maternal nutrition and inappropriate early breast feeding practices underlie some of the problem, a major cause of widespread micronutrient malnutrition is the poor state of complementary feeding. Studies of infant growth patterns in Pakistan reveal that the growth faltering starts after 5-6 months of age, and usually parallels the transition from exclusive or predominant breast feeding to mixed feeding with home available complementary foods. While the recent global recommendations of exclusive breast feeding for six months in developing countries are clearly appropriate, the optimal approach in order to provide adequate micronutrients is uncertain. (author)