Consumption of Micronutrient-Fortified Milk and Noodles is Associated with Lower Risk of Stunting in Preschool-Aged Children in Indonesia
Open Access
- 1 December 2011
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Food and Nutrition Bulletin
- Vol. 32 (4), 347-353
- https://doi.org/10.1177/156482651103200406
Abstract
Background Stunting is highly prevalent in developing countries and is associated with greater morbidity and mortality. Micronutrient deficiencies contribute to stunting, and micronutrient-fortified foods are a potential strategy to reduce child stunting. Objective To examine the relationship between the use of fortified powdered milk and noodles and child stunting in a large, population-based sample of Indonesian children. Methods Consumption of fortified milk and fortified noodles was assessed in children 6 to 59 months of age from 222,250 families living in rural areas and 79,940 families living in urban slum areas in Indonesia. Results The proportions of children who consumed fortified milk and fortified noodles were 34.0% and 22.0%, respectively, in rural families, and 42.4% and 48.5%, respectively, in urban families. The prevalence of stunting among children from rural and urban families was 51.8% and 48.8%, respectively. Children from rural and urban families were less likely to be stunted if they consumed fortified milk (in rural areas, OR = 0.87; 95% CI, 0.85 to 0.90; p < .0001; in urban areas, OR = 0.80; 95% CI, 0.76 to 0.85; p < .0001) or fortified noodles (in rural areas, OR = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.91 to 0.99; p = .02; in urban areas, OR = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.91 to 1.01; p = .08) in multiple logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders. In both rural and urban families, the odds of stunting were lower when a child who consumed fortified milk also consumed fortified noodles, or when a child who consumed fortified noodles also consumed fortified milk. Conclusions The consumption of fortified milk and noodles is associated with decreased odds of stunting among Indonesian children. These findings add to a growing body of evidence regarding the potential benefits of multiple micronutrient fortification on child growth.Keywords
This publication has 13 references indexed in Scilit:
- Child malnutrition and mortality among families not utilizing adequately iodized salt in IndonesiaThe American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2008
- Developmental potential in the first 5 years for children in developing countriesThe Lancet, 2007
- Assessing and Communicating Impact of Nutrition and Health ProgramsPublished by Springer Science and Business Media LLC ,2003
- The Effect of Micronutrient Deficiencies on Child Growth: A Review of Results from Community-Based Supplementation TrialsJournal of Nutrition, 2003
- Changes in Child Survival Are Strongly Associated with Changes in Malnutrition in Developing CountriesJournal of Nutrition, 2003
- The High Prevalence of Low Hemoglobin Concentration among Indonesian Infants Aged 3–5 Months Is Related to Maternal AnemiaJournal of Nutrition, 2002
- The potential of various foods to serve as a carrier for micronutrient fortification, data from remote areas in IndonesiaEuropean Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2000
- Preventing Maternal DeathsStudies in Family Planning, 1989
- Characteristics and determinants of child nutritional status in NepalThe American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1984
- Productivity and maximal oxygen consumption in sugar cane cuttersThe American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1977