ABSTRACT
The prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies is high in children in developing countries. The majority of them live on a diet high in cereals, tubers, and legumes but low in animal source foods. Meat and milk are good sources of protein and are likely to be the only unfortified foods that can provide enough vitamin B12, calcium, iron, and zinc that are essential for optimal growth, health, and cognitive and psychomotor development in children. A number of observational studies in developed and developing countries have shown associations between a low intake of animal source foods and low intakes of important nutrients, impaired growth, and health. Positive associations of the consumption of animal source foods with improved growth, cognitive function, activity, and school performance in young children have been found
Abstract .................................................................................................................. 183 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 184 Animal Source Foods in the Nutrition of Children ................................................ 185
Nutritional Value of Animal Source Foods ....................................................... 185 Importance of Animal Source Foods in Children’s Diets ................................. 185
Animal Source Foods: Functional Outcomes in Children in Developing Countries ................................................................................................................ 186
Neonatal Growth and Health ............................................................................. 187 Micronutrient Status .......................................................................................... 188 Growth ............................................................................................................... 188 Cognitive Function and School Performance .................................................... 190 Physical Activity, Emotional State, and Social Interactions During Free Play............................................................................................................ 191
Meat Consumption and Dietary Iron Bioavailability ............................................. 191 Implications ............................................................................................................ 193 Conclusions ............................................................................................................ 194 References .............................................................................................................. 195
in several cross-sectional studies in developing countries. The supplementation of rural Kenyan schoolchildren with a snack containing meat almost eliminated their previously high vitamin B12 deficiency and increased their lean body mass. The children receiving the supplement with meat were also more cognitively able, physically active, and social initiating than children provided with snacks that did not contain animal source foods. The provision of milk improved height gain, particularly in those children who were stunted. In addition to providing considerable amounts of easily available heme iron, meat tissue is known to have an enhancing effect on nonheme iron absorption from other food components in the same meal. Several studies have shown that the inclusion of meat alone or in addition to other enhancers of iron bioavailability can improve nonheme iron absorption and as a consequence helps reduce iron deficiency. An increase in the consumption of animal source foods by children in developing countries offers a viable food-based approach to increase the intake of highly bioavailable nutrients and improve their functional outcome.
