Did you know that the most common micronutrients deficiencies worldwide and in the Philippines are vitamin A, iron and iodine?
Micronutrients play distinctive roles in the human body despite taken in small amounts. In all the individuals, the most vulnerable to micronutrient deficiencies are pregnant women, lactating women, and young children due to the greater requirement for vitamins and minerals.
Vitamin A has a role in maintaining eye health, maintenance of healthy skin cells, growth and development, fights infections, boosts the immune system, supports generation of lymphocytes, cell differentiation, and supports sperm production and fertility. Poor dietary intake of Vitamin A may cause depleted liver stores, non-alcoholic liver disease, night blindness, white, foamy patches in cornea or Bitot’s spot, corneal drying and scarring, total blindness, scaly and dry skin, follicular hyperkeratosis, infertility, weakened immunity and greater risk of diarrhea and measles. Rich sources of vitamin A include animal liver, orange, and yellow fruits and vegetables, green leafy vegetables, egg, and fortified milk and grain products.
Iron, on the other hand, is responsible for transporting oxygen to the body, transfer of electrons, component of enzymes involved in energy metabolism such as citric acid cycle and electron transport chain, required to have an optimal immune function and promotes the formation of destructive free radicals. Low consumption of iron-rich foods may lead to poor productivity, fatigue or tiredness, shortness of breath, premature delivery, maternal mortality, pale skin, lips and eyelids, heart palpitations, sleep disturbance, attention-deficit, and weakened immunity. To ensure adequate dietary iron, increase intake of red meat such as beef, liver, beans, legumes, fortified cereals, whole grains, and fortified grain products.
Lastly, iodine is a component of thyroid hormones which manages regulation of normal body temperature, basal metabolic rate, growth, development, and functions of the brain and nervous system, reproduction and production of sex hormones. Lack of dietary consumption of iodine-rich foods may result in goiter, cretinism, prenatal death, infant mortality, birth defects such as deaf or mute, cleft palate, and mental retardation. Iodine can be incorporated into the diet through increased consumption of Iodized salt, saltwater fish, seafood, milk, cheese, egg, yogurt, and fortified grain products.
In consonance to the Philippine Dietary Recommended Intakes (PDRI, 2015), healthy adults aged 19 to 49 years old must consume 12 mg/day (male) and 28 mg/day (female) of iron; 433 μg/day (female) and 499 μg/day (male) of vitamin A; and 150 μg/day (male and female) of iodine.
One of the call actions taken to combat micronutrient deficiencies in the country is food fortification. It is a scientifically proven, cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable practice that adds vitamins and/or minerals to foods and condiments. The process of food fortification aims to increase the nutritional content of foods and improve the nutritional and health status of most vulnerable groups specifically malnourished children, pregnant women, lactating women, and the elderly.
In support of the food fortification, the Executive Order (EO) 382, signed on 29 October 2004 by Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, sets the observance of National Food Fortification Day every 7th of November. Department of Health (DOH) as the lead agency is liable in formulation and dissemination of guidelines and procedures on the implementation of the EO, provision of technical assistance to LGUs, the conduct of national and regional advocacy and social mobilization activities, provision of necessary logistics and promotional materials, and monitoring of all the activities at the local levels. Agencies engaged are DA, DILG, DepEd, DTI, DSWD, Academe, Civil Society, NGOs, and LGUs through the Council of Leagues (barangay captains, councilors, mayors, and governors).
To strengthen implementation of EO 382, the following were executed: 1) RA 8172: An Act Promoting Salt Iodization Worldwide (ASIN Law) signed on 20 December 1995, 2) RA 8976: An Act Establishing the Philippine Food Fortification Program (Food Fortification Law) which mandates fortification of rice with iron; wheat flour with vitamin A and iron; and refined sugar and cooking oil with vitamin A, 3) DOH AO No. 4A, s. of 1995: Guidelines on Micronutrient Fortification of Processed Foods which authorizes fortification of cereal and cereal products with iron and B complex vitamins; juices, flavored drinks, and food gels with vitamin C; filled milk, cooking oil, and margarine with vitamin A; and salt with iodine, 4) Philippine Food Fortification Program which covers all imported or locally processed foods or food products for sale or distribution in the Philippines with exception to dietary supplements, and 5) Sangkap Pinoy Seal Program which encourages food manufacturers to fortify processed foods or food products with essential nutrients at levels approved by DOH and a DOH seal of acceptance can be used by food manufacturers who passed set criteria.
Knowing this information about micronutrients, it can be said that good things indeed come in small packages. Together, let us raise awareness on the importance of micronutrients and the prevention of micronutrient deficiencies. Ensure the consumption of well-balanced meals to get the best source of micronutrients from natural sources. (NKSLoyola)
Sources:
World Health Organization
Official Gazette of the Philippines
Insel, P., Ross, D., McMahon, K. & Bernstein, M. (2017). Nutrition (Sixth Edition). Burlington, Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Learning
