Micronutrient deficiencies and hidden hunger

Question 1

What is hidden hunger?

Answer 1

Micronutrient deficiencies despite adequate calorie intake; impair growth, immunity, and development, especially in children and pregnant women.

Question 2

What are the main health consequences of Vitamin A deficiency?

Answer 2

Night blindness, xerophthalmia, increased child mortality, maternal night blindness, and greater infection severity.

Question 3

What are key determinants of Vitamin A deficiency?

Answer 3

Low intake of animal foods, fruits, vegetables; frequent infections like measles and diarrhoea.

Question 4

List 4 key interventions for preventing/treating Vitamin A deficiency.

Answer 4

1. Dietary diversity (e.g. orange fruits, greens, eggs, dairy) 2. Supplementation (high-dose capsules for children & postpartum women) 3. Fortification (e.g. oil, margarine, sugar) 4. Biofortification (e.g. orange-fleshed sweet potato)

Question 5

What are the key health effects of zinc deficiency in children?

Answer 5

Stunting, weakened immunity, higher diarrhoea and pneumonia risk, skin lesions, appetite loss.

Question 6

What are common causes of zinc deficiency?

Answer 6

Diets high in cereals, low in animal protein; gut infections and diarrhoea; coexisting protein deficiency.

Question 7

What are 5 interventions to reduce zinc deficiency?

Answer 7

1. Diverse diet (animal foods, legumes, nuts) 2. Supplementation during diarrhoea 3. Fortification (flour, rice) 4. Agronomic fortification (zinc fertilizers) 5. Biofortification (high-zinc crops)

Question 8

What are the global prevalence rates of anaemia?

Answer 8

~40% of children <5, ~37% of pregnant women, ~30% of non-pregnant women (WHO 2024).

Question 9

What are major causes of iron-deficiency anaemia?

Answer 9

Low iron intake, high phytates, high iron needs (e.g. pregnancy), blood loss (e.g. malaria, hookworm), frequent childbirth, socio-cultural barriers.

Question 10

What are the health consequences of iron deficiency?

Answer 10

Fatigue, poor cognition, pregnancy risks (low birth weight, prematurity), maternal/child mortality, reduced productivity.

Question 11

Name 6 key intervention strategies for iron deficiency.

Answer 11

1. Dietary change (iron-rich foods + vitamin C) 2. Supplementation (IFA tablets, powders) 3. Fortification (flour, rice, salt) 4. Deworming/malaria control 5. Biofortification (e.g. iron beans) 6. Behaviour change & antenatal care

Question 12

What is the WHO global target for anaemia reduction?

Answer 12

50% reduction of anaemia in women of reproductive age by 2030.

Question 13

What are the consequences of iodine deficiency?

Answer 13

Goiter, cretinism, intellectual disability, lower child IQ.

Question 14

What causes iodine deficiency?

Answer 14

Iodine-poor soils, lack of iodized salt or iodine-rich foods, maternal iodine deficiency during pregnancy.

Question 15

What are 4 key strategies for IDD prevention?

Answer 15

1. Universal Salt Iodisation (potassium iodate in salt) 2. Iodine supplementation (capsules/injections) 3. Dietary diversification (e.g. seafood, dairy) 4. Agronomic biofortification (e.g. iodine in fertiliser/water)