Micronutrients, Insight, and Impact: A Review of Nutritional Interventions in Indian Pediatrics

Anaemia continues to be a critical public health concern in India, especially among children and adolescents. According to NFHS-4, 58% of Indian children under five were anaemic, a number that reflects the severe consequences of micronutrient deficiencies. Recent data from NFHS-5 show a worsening trend among adolescent females (15–19 years), with anaemia prevalence increasing from 54.1% to 59.1%, and even higher in rural areas (58.7%) compared to urban settings (54.1%). The causes are multifactorial, including iron deficiency, vitamin A, B12, and folate deficiencies, parasitic infections such as hookworm and malaria, and haemoglobinopathies.

In response to this growing crisis, the Government of India has launched several national initiatives, including the National Nutrition Mission (PoshanAbhiyan), AnaemiaMukt Bharat (AMB), and the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, all aiming to reduce anaemia by promoting dietary diversity, ensuring micronutrient supplementation, and enhancing healthcare access. PoshanAbhiyan adopts a multisectoral approach, focusing on community engagement to tackle the root causes of malnutrition and anaemia, while AMB specifically targets vulnerable populations like adolescent girls, children, and pregnant women.

To identify evidence-based interventions, a scoping review was conducted using multiple databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The review assessed studies from January 2012 to September 2023, focusing on Indian children and adolescents aged 6 months to 19 years. These studies revealed that a combination of micronutrient supplementation, such as iron, and vitamins A, C, D, and B12, alongside nutritional interventions like zinc-rich diets, fortified whole-wheat products, ragi-based foods, milk, porridge, and lipid-based supplements, had a significant impact on improving haemoglobin levels and reducing anaemia.

The review concluded that vitamin and mineral supplementation, coupled with community-based strategies, can substantially mitigate childhood anaemia and its long-term effects on growth and cognition. However, to scale the impact, policymakers must focus on awareness and behavioral change among parents, caregivers, Anganwadi workers, and teachers. Bridging the micronutrient gap is not merely a clinical need, it is a national imperative for securing the cognitive and physical development of India’s next generation.

Source: Mathias EG, Halemani K, Lobo AS, Bhat LT. Interventions to improve vitamin and mineral inadequacies among children in India: a scoping review. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics [Internet]. 2024 Nov 5;38(1).