Publication: Galvanizing action: Conclusions and next steps for mainstreaming zinc interventions in public health programs
Issued Date
2009-03-01
Resource Type
ISSN
03795721
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2-s2.0-65349144895
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Mahidol University
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SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Food and Nutrition Bulletin. Vol.30, No.1 SUPPL. (2009)
Suggested Citation
Kenneth H. Brown, Shawn K. Baker, Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Omar Dary, Rosalind S. Gibson, Christine Hotz, Janet C. King, Bo Lönnerdal, Juan A. Rivera, Marie T. Ruel, Emorn Wasantwisut, Sonja Y. Hess Galvanizing action: Conclusions and next steps for mainstreaming zinc interventions in public health programs. Food and Nutrition Bulletin. Vol.30, No.1 SUPPL. (2009). Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/27049
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Title
Galvanizing action: Conclusions and next steps for mainstreaming zinc interventions in public health programs
Other Contributor(s)
University of California, Davis
Helen Keller International
The Aga Khan University
United States Agency for International Development
University of Otago
International Food Policy Research Institute
Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute
Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica
Mahidol University
Helen Keller International
The Aga Khan University
United States Agency for International Development
University of Otago
International Food Policy Research Institute
Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute
Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica
Mahidol University
Abstract
This paper summarizes the results of the foregoing reviews of the impact of different intervention strategies designed to enhance zinc nutrition, including supplementation, fortification, and dietary diversification or modification. Current evidence indicates a beneficial impact of such interventions on zinc status and zinc-related functional outcomes. Preventive zinc supplementation reduces the incidence of diarrhea and acute lower respiratory tract infection among young children, decreases mortality of children over 12 months of age, and increases growth velocity. Therapeutic zinc supplementation during episodes of diarrhea reduces the duration and severity of illness. Zinc fortification increases zinc intake and total absorbed zinc, and recent studies are beginning to confirm a positive impact of zinc fortification on indicators of population zinc status. To assist with the development of zinc intervention programs, more information is needed on the prevalence of zinc deficiency in different countries, and rigorous evaluations of the effectiveness of large-scale zinc intervention programs should be planned. Recommended steps for scaling up zinc intervention programs, with or without other micronutrients, are described. In summary, there is now clear evidence of the benefit of selected interventions to reduce the risk of zinc deficiency, and a global commitment is urgently needed to conduct systematic assessments of population zinc status and to develop interventions to control zinc deficiency in the context of existing public health and nutrition programs. © 2009, The United Nations University.