Role of Micro and Secondary Nutrients in Achieving Food and Nutritional Security

Abstract

In spite of great strides in fight against hunger, yet an unacceptably large number of people still lack the food and quality they need for an active and healthy life. Out of 795 million undernourished people (consuming <1800 kilocalories a day) in the world (201416), the vast majority of the hungry (780 million) live in the developing regions 233 million in Africa, 522 million in Asia and 34 million in Latin America & the Caribbean [1]. As regards the prevalence of undernutrition which signifies deficiencies not only in energy, but protein, essential vitamins and minerals also, about 2 billion people suffer from micronutrient malnutrition [2]. Out of 667 million children under age 5 worldwide, 159 million are too short for their age (stunted) and 50 million do not weigh enough for their height (wasted) [3]. An estimated 45 percent of deaths of children under age 5 are linked to malnutrition [4].