MANILA, Philippines - Milk fortified with a special combination of micronutrients has been proven by a milestone study to improve the health of children by reducing the incidence of childhood diseases, including diarrhea, acute respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia, or nutritional deficiencies like iron deficiency and anemia. It also has a positive impact on the weight and height of growing toddlers.
These results are important for child health in Asia, especially in the Philippines where nutritional deficiencies and infectious illnesses like pneumonia and diarrhea are still among the leading causes of mortality in children, one to four years old. (Source: Philippine Health Statistics 2000 and National Objectives for Health Philippines 2005-2010, www.doh.gov.ph)
Researchers studied children residing in New Delhi, India who received supplementation of milk fortified with a specific bundle of micronutrients including vitamins A, C, E, iron, zinc, selenium, and copper over a period of one year. The children who consumed the fortified milk were better protected from common illnesses and able to benefit from improved immunity to certain diseases compared to children who consumed milk with natural levels of micronutrients.
“It is always a question and an issue of the right combination of vitamins and nutrients for any form of nutritional supplementation to achieve full effectiveness,” says Dr. Sunil Sazawal, a distinguished expert on child health and associate research professor at the Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University. “That is why it is crucial to utilize a carefully selected bundle of nutrients and use it in the right levels. Iron and zinc, for instance, hold key roles in the immune system, while vitamin C was added to the formulation to aid the absorption of specific nutrients.”
He elaborates, “It is important to use a certain vehicle that is acceptable to the population. Milk is a very good delivery method for fortification since it is a universally acceptable food source for children after one year of age. It is also easy to administer and more child-friendly compared to non-food-based delivery systems like tablets.”
Yielding groundbreaking results that can help improve child health, the research was funded and supported by Fonterra, the world’s leader in dairy nutrition that is committed to bringing the best quality dairy products designed to improve the health of children around the globe.