A nutrition expert has called for incorporating fortification with essential micronutrients into foods and beverages widely consumed by vulnerable populations in Nigeria.
Dr Kanalio Olaloku, at the Nestle Nutrition Institute, Central West African Region, said to ensure maximum impact, the fortified products must be affordable and accessible.
Speaking at the annual symposium of the Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN), Olaloku asserted that food micronutrient levels should be carefully calibrated to provide at least 15 per cent of daily requirements while remaining below the upper intake limits to prevent over-consumption and potential adverse effects.
In her presentation entitled “Adequate Nutrition as Preventative Medicine,” Olaloku said malnutrition is a broad term encompassing both undernutrition and overnutrition. “Undernutrition refers to insufficient intake of essential nutrients, leading to conditions like stunting, wasting, and underweight.
“Conversely, overnutrition results from excessive food consumption, contributing to overweight, obesity, and related health issues.”
She said the World Health Organization (WHO) categorizes malnutrition as including these conditions, as well as deficiencies in vitamins and minerals, and their associated diseases.
Lamenting that Nigeria continues to struggle with poor chronic indicators, she recalled that WHO, describes nutrition as the intake of food considered in relation to the body’s dietary need of cells.
She said: “According to the WHO, food provides the body with energy, protein, essential fats, vitamins and minerals to live, grow and function properly. Good nutrition and physical activity is the cornerstone of both good physical and mental health. Good nutrition means your body gets all the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals it needs to work its best.
“Generally, malnutrition refers to poor intake of food which may be an excess consumption of food (overnutrition) or inadequate nutrient consumption (undernutrition).”
Olaloku lamented that the unregulated distribution of breastmilk substitutes, compounded by limited access to clean water during crises, significantly increases the risk of malnutrition and death among infants and young children.
Calling for prioritization of breastfeeding practices, she noted that provision of essential support can mitigate these risks and help bridge the gap between the most vulnerable and those with greater access to resources.
