Evaluating Food-Based Approaches to Prevent Micronutrient Malnutrition Using Isotope Techniques

Good nutrition needs more than just carbohydrates, protein and fat. Humans may eat enough calories to live, but may have a diet that fails to provide sufficient levels of crucial vitamins and minerals that allow them to be mentally and physically healthy. A lack of these essential vitamins and minerals often results in what is termed as 'hidden hunger', where the signs of undernutrition are less visible and people may not even be aware of it. Hidden hunger has been estimated to affect as many as 2 billion people globally. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies account for an estimated 7.3% of the global disease burden, with iron and vitamin A deficiencies ranking among the top 15 leading causes of the global disease burden. Hidden hunger impairs the mental and physical development of children and adolescents and can result in lower IQ, stunting, and blindness; women and children in low-income countries are especially vulnerable. Hidden hunger also reduces the productivity of adult men and women due to increased risk of illness and reduced work capacity.