ABSTRACT
Malnutrition is truly a universal problem leading to social and economic issues. Nearly everyone suffers from malnutrition in one or the other stage in their life, from infancy to old age. Every geographical location, including every segment of society, is affected by at least one form of malnutrition. According to the report [29], the cost of malnutrition to society was up to US$ 3.5 trillion per year. Micronutrient deficiency is a type of malnutrition that occurs due to the lack of intake and absorption of one or more vitamins and minerals. Micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) are the nutrients which are required essentially in small quantities for maintaining proper health. As per WHO [89], about two billion populace in the globe suffer from dietary deficiency of minerals and vitamins, and about 340 million children suffer from deficiency of minerals and vitamins micronutrients [33]. Minerals perform a variety of functions in the human body, e.g., building blood and strong bones, transmitting nerve impulse, etc. Deficiency of minerals and vitamins play a significant role in the health of human beings, especially children and pregnant women. Mineral deficiency may occur either due to poor availability of variety of foods or inappropriate dietary practices due to poverty. Persistent deficiencies of minerals lead to long term ill effects on health. Therefore, initiatives are needed to address the problems associated with mineral deficiency. Fortification of dairy products allows incorporation of essential and beneficial micronutrients that are either lost during processing or are not present in milk. The consumption of fortified dairy products will help in reducing the instances of mineral deficiency among our population and also decrease the rate of associated diseases.
