Micronutrient powders in the diet of children aged 6 to 59 months: review of systematic reviews

Abstract

Introduction: Iron, zinc, and vitamin B12 deficiencies are associated with impaired cognitive and motor development in children. For over 15 years, the use of multiple micronutrient powders (MMNPs) for home fortification of foods consumed by children aged 6 to 23 months has been discussed. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of strategies for fortifying infant food with MMNPs. Methods: Rapid review of systematic reviews (SRs), with searches conducted in Lilacs, PubMed, Embase, and Epistemonikos. Study selection was conducted in duplicate and independently, and data extraction was performed by one reviewer and verified by another. SRs were assessed for methodological quality using AMSTAR 2. Results: Four SRs were included. The primary studies included in the reviews were conducted in various countries. The results were consistent regarding the benefit of MMNP supplementation for reducing anemia in the infant population; however, there is significant heterogeneity among the studies. There is uncertainty regarding the effects of improvement in anthropometric parameters. Diarrhea was the main adverse event reported. Conclusions: The global burden of micronutrient deficiency has decreased since 1990, but robust studies addressing the effects of supplementing foods consumed by children are needed, especially regarding the choice of single micronutrients, such as zinc, compared to multiple micronutrients. Population studies are necessary to understand the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies and guide the definition of target populations for supplementation programs.