Micronutrients are essential elements that organisms need in a small amount throughout life to regulate physiological functions to maintain health. Micronutrient requirements differ between organisms; for example, humans and other animals need plenty of vitamins and minerals, while plants need special minerals. For human nutrition, micronutrient requirements in quantities are generally less than 100 milligrams per day, whereas macronutrients are needed in grams every day.
Minerals for humans and other animals include 13 elements derived from Earth soil and not synthesized by living organisms, such as calcium and iron. Micronutrient requirements for animals also include vitamins, which are the necessary organic compounds in micrograms or milligrams. Since plants are a major source of nutrients for humans and animals, some micronutrients may be at a low level and deficiencies can occur when insufficient food intake, such as those that occur in malnutrition, implies the need for initiatives to prevent inadequate supply of micronutrients in plant foods.
Video Micronutrient
Public health initiative for humans
At the 1990 World Summit for Children, the assembled states identified deficiencies in two microminerals and one micronutrient - iodine, iron, and vitamin A - as very common and posing public health risks in developing countries. The Summit set a goal to eliminate this deficiency. The Ottawa-based Micronutrient Initiative was established in response to this challenge with a mission to research and fund and implement micronutrient programs.
As the micronutrient program developed, new research in the 1990s led to the adoption of folate and zinc supplementation programs as well.
Priority programs include supplementation with vitamin A for children 6-59 months, zinc supplements as a treatment for diarrheal diseases, iron and folate supplementation for women of childbearing age, iodization of salts, fortification of staple foods, some micronutrient powders, plant biofortification and nutrition education which is behavior-centered.
Iodization of salt
Iodized salt is a recommended strategy to ensure adequate intake of human iodine. For iodized salt, potassium iodate is added to salt after it is distilled and dried and before packing. Despite the most efficient large-scale iodization, given the proliferation of small-scale salt producers in developing countries, small-scale iodization technologies have also been developed. International organizations work with national governments to identify and support small salt producers in adopting iodized activities.
In 1990, less than 20 percent of households in developing countries consumed iodized salt. In 1994, an international partnership has been formed in a global campaign for Universal Salt Iodization. In 2008, it was estimated that 72 percent of households in developing countries consume iodized salt and the number of countries where iodine deficiency is a public health problem decreases by more than half from 110 to 47 countries.
Vitamin A supplementation
In 1997, the national vitamin A supplementation program received encouragement when experts met to discuss the rapid increase of supplementation activities and the Micronutrient Initiative, with support from the Government of Canada, began to ensure the supply of vitamin A to UNICEF.
In areas with vitamin A deficiency, it is recommended that children aged 6-59 months receive two doses each year. In many countries, vitamin A supplements are combined with immunization and campaign-style health events.
Global vitamin A supplementation efforts have targeted 103 priority countries. In 1999, 16 percent of children in these countries received two doses of vitamin A. In 2007, this number increased to 62 percent.
The Micronutrient Initiative, with funding from the Government of Canada, supplies 75 percent of the vitamin A needed for supplementation in developing countries.
Rich enriched salt
Double-fortified salt (DFS) is a public health tool to provide nutritional iron. DFS is fortified with iodine and iron. It was developed by Venkatesh Mannar, Executive Director of Micronutrient Initiative and University of Toronto Professor Levente Diosady, who invented the process for coating iron particles with vegetable fat to prevent negative iodine and iron interactions.
In India, Tata Salt Plus, at an economical price of Rs 20 per kg, is an enriched iodine plus iron salt, developed by the National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad through double fortification technology. This technology is offered to Tata Chemicals based on a long-term MoU after a study of bio availability across all strata of population conducted and published by NIN.
It was first used in public programming in 2004. In September 2010 DFS was produced in the State of Tamil Nadu India and distributed through the state school feeding program. DFS has also been used to combat Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) in the Indian state of Bihar. In September 2010, Venkatesh Mannar was named Laureat of the California-based Tech Awards for his work in developing Double-Fortified Salt.
Micro enriched fertilization
The return of applying the enriched micronutrient fertilization can be enormous for human health, social and economic development. Studies have shown that enriching fertilizers with micronutrients not only affects plant deficiencies but also in humans and animals, through the food chain. A 1994 report by the World Bank estimates that micronutrient malnutrition weighs on developing economies at least 5 percent of gross domestic product. The Asian Development Bank has summarized the benefits of eliminating the following micronutrient deficiencies:
Along with a growing understanding of the extent and impact of malnutrition malnutrition, several interventions have demonstrated the feasibility and benefits of correction and prevention. Distributing low-cost capsules, diversifying to include more micronutrient-rich foods, or strengthening commonly-consumed foods can make a big difference. Correcting iodine, vitamin A, and iron deficiency can increase population-level intelligence by 10-15 points, decrease maternal mortality by a quarter, reduce infant and child mortality by 40 percent, and increase community employment capacity by almost half. The elimination of this deficiency will reduce the cost of health care and education, increase work capacity and productivity, and accelerate fair economic growth and national development. Increased nutrition is essential for sustainable economic growth. Removal of micronutrient deficiencies is as effective as the best public health intervention and fortification is the most cost-effective strategy.
Overcoming zinc deficiency through zinc fertilization
Experiments show that the application of zinc fertilizer on soil and leaves can effectively reduce the ratio of zinc fitat in grains. People who ate bread made from zinc-fortified wheat showed a significant increase in serum zinc, suggesting that the zinc fertilizer strategy is a promising approach to addressing zinc deficiency in humans.
Where zinc deficiency is a limiting factor, zinc fertilization can improve yields. A balanced nutritional plant supplying all essential nutrients, including zinc, is a cost-effective management strategy. Even with the efficient varieties of zinc, zinc fertilizer is needed when the zinc available in the topsoil becomes exhausted.
Maps Micronutrient
Micronutrients for plants
There are about seven essential nutrients for plant growth and health that are needed only in very small amounts. Although these are only small in number, they are all required:
- Boron is believed to be involved in the transport of carbohydrates in plants; it also helps in metabolic regulation. Boron deficiency often causes dieback buds.
- Chlorine is required for osmosis and ionic balance; it also plays a role in photosynthesis.
- Copper is a component of several enzymes. Symptoms of copper deficiency include brown leaf tip and chlorosis.
- Iron is essential for the synthesis of chlorophyll, which causes iron deficiency in chlorosis.
- Mangan activates some of the important enzymes involved in chlorophyll formation. Manganese deficiency plants will develop chlorosis between the leaf veins. The availability of manganese depends in part on soil pH.
- Molybdenum is important for plant health. Molybdenum is used by plants to reduce nitrate into a usable form. Some plants use it for nitrogen fixation, so it may need to be added to some soil before seeding seeding.
- Zinc participates in chlorophyll formation, and also activates many enzymes. Symptoms of zinc deficiency include chlorosis and stunted growth.
Biofortification of plants
Micronutrient deficiency is widespread. 51% of the world's cereal soil lacks zinc and 30% of the globally cultivated land of iron deficiency. The steady growth of crops over the last few decades (especially through the Green Revolution) complicates matters with the depletion of soil micronutrient pools.
In general, farmers only apply micronutrients when plants show symptoms of deficiency, while micronutrient deficiency lowers results before symptoms appear. Some common agricultural practices (such as acidic acid soils) contribute to the widespread occurrence of plant micronutrient deficiencies by reducing the availability of micronutrients present in the soil. Also, widespread use of glyphosate is increasingly suspected to interfere with absorption of micronutrients by plants, especially with regard to manganese, iron and zinc.
Biofortification of plant crops - increased levels of vitamins and minerals through plant biotechnology - is being used in many regions of the world to overcome micronutrient deficiencies in poor areas and malnutrition.
See also
- List of micronutrients
- Makronutrien (ecology)
- dietary minerals
- manganese (drug) deficiency
- John Mortvedt, land scientist focuses on micronutrient fertilizers
References
External links
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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