Field Stories
In photos: Local shops enhance access to zinc and LO-ORS to improve child health in Kenya
June 24, 2024
Researchers reviewed twenty-three articles to evaluate whether nutrient requirements in children (6 to 23 months) living in low- and middle-income countries can be met by the consumption of locally available foods (“observed intake”) or optimized foods using modeling techniques (“modeled intake”).
Children consuming locally available foods did not always meet nutrient requirements. When diets are optimized, most nutrient requirements can be met, with the exception of iron and zinc and in some settings calcium, folate, and B vitamins.
Findings suggest that optimizing local foods in diets of children can improve nutrient intakes; however, additional cost-effective strategies are needed to ensure adequate intakes of iron and zinc.