Micronutrients deficiency most prevalent health condition among newborns: Experts

New Delhi: As per a study done by researchers, micronutrients deficiencies are a major risk factor of illness in newborns.

Every day, over 6,000 children die in India under the age of five and more than half of these deaths are caused by micronutrient malnutrition-primarily due to lack of Vitamin A, iron, iodine, zinc and folic acid.

This micronutrient deficit among infants needs to be managed.

Micronutrients deficiency is essentially a lack of necessary vitamins and minerals that are required by the body.

Micronutrients include iron, zinc, iodine, folate and Vitamin A. A deficiency in these can have long term negative effects on an infant's growth and development.

One of the ideal ways to prevent this deficiency is to adopt food based strategies which make sure that the infant is consuming a micronutrients rich diet.

Micronutrient deficiencies affect cognitive development and physical performance of infants. It also leads to an increased likelihood of a detrimental effect on the health and productivity in adulthood.

The deficiency of specific micronutrients can result in various abnormalities.

Lack of zinc and Vitamin A in infants causes slow and poor growth, reduced immuno-competence and increased susceptibility to infectious disease.

Iron deficiency is associated with irreversible neurological impairment and reduced functionality of the immune system.

Furthermore, decreased levels of iodine in infants leads to weakened intellectual development and physical growth.

(With ANI inputs)