Child nutrition and growth: Is dietary quality important for the growth and development of Third World Children?
1991
Allen, L.H.
The nutrient deficiencies that cause growth-stunting and delayed development in Third World children are not known. Attention has shifted away from protein or essential amino acid deficiencies toward energy deficiency--because of lack of food--as the culprit. The Nutrition CRSP was organized to answer whether marginal malnutrition in the form of energy inadequacy, had adverse effects on human function. The general conclusion of parallel studies in Egypt, Kenya and Mexico is that the quality of the diet, in terms of its content of animal products, was more important for the growth, cognitive and behavioral development of children than the total amount of energy or protein consumed. Evidence for a general energy deficit was obtained only in Kenya, which suffered drought-related food shortage. These findings raise the issue of whether micronutrients, such as iron and zinc, may be more limiting to marginally malnourished children's growth and development than has been recognized previously.
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