Strategies to Improve Micronutrient Status of Infants and Young Children with Special Attention to Complementary Foods Fortified with Micronutrients: Perspectives from Vietnam

Undernutrition is a major public health problem among infants and young children in many Asian countries, especially in South Asia. Malnutrition, including micronutrient deficiency, has a direct impact on morbidity and mortality of infants and children. Indeed, vitamin A deficiency alone has been associated with 0.6 million child deaths/year, and zinc deficiency is estimated to cause another 0.4 million child deaths/year [1]. Malnutrition during the first years of life, even before birth, also has long-term effects, and has been related to the development of non-communicable chronic diseases [2]. Moreover appropriate infant and young child feeding practices contribute to the prevention of overweight and obesity in early childhood, thus mitigating the dual burden of malnutrition experienced in many countries.