Abstract
Background: The footprints of zinc dietary nutrient deficiency are resulting in a widespread burden of stunting, wasting and underweight in children under five years, and reproductive development in women over a population of 100 million in Pakistan. The zinc malnutrition could be addressed by consumption of biofortified high zinc wheat flour, a staple food, in complemented with food supplementation, food diversification and food fortification interventions in the country. Methodology: This evidence-based research publication focused on micronutrients malnutrition on human health and capital. Literature was taken from last 20 years papers published in several peers reviewed scientific journals. Papers regarding malnutrition were mainly focused. The primary data was collected from R&D institutions and secondary data from Pakistan National Nutrition Survey 2011. Various sites, viz. www.harvestplus.org, www.ifpri.org, http://www.ars.usda.gov/ba/bhnrc/ndl, http://data.unicef.org: www.fao.org: http://wholibdoc.who.int/publications were also visited. Results: In Pakistan, the recently released biofortified high zinc wheat variety “Zincol-2016” had a higher quantum of 37 mg Zn kg-1 compared to 25.0 mg Zn kg-1 in grain portion in other commercially grown wheat varieties. Upon consuming biofortified wheat flour, zinc concentration increased from 681.3 to 792.3 µg L-1 in human plasma. Furthermore, even an increase in dietary zinc by an amount of 2.0 mg Zn capita-1 day-1 may result in halving the endemic problem of zinc malnutrition, with a little change in food diversity pattern. Conclusion: The consumption of biofortified high zinc wheat variety “Zincol-2016” containing 37 mg Zn kg-1 compared to 25.0 mg Zn kg-1 in conventional wheat varieties could result in alleviating zinc malnutrition to the extent of 50% in the malnourished population. Thereby, it is a potential complementary staple food with other contemporary interventions to address malnutrition in Pakistan.
Highlights
At the global level, more than two billion people are experiencing a syndrome of malnutrition[1], and a greater proportion of households to be affected by 20502
The poor diet is a major determinant, which afflicts the human health to a greater degree than any other component[6]
The cooperation has been extended by Consultative Group for International Agricultura l Research (CGIAR), International Maize & Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Federal and Provincial Governments of Pakistan, proved highly enumerative in furthering the development of biofortified wheat
Summary
More than two billion people are experiencing a syndrome of malnutrition[1], and a greater proportion of households to be affected by 20502. The zinc malnutrition could be addressed by consumption of biofortified high zinc wheat flour, a staple food, in complemented with food supplementation, food diversification and food fortification interventions in the country. Conclusion: The consumption of biofortified high zinc wheat variety “Zincol-2016” containing 37 mg Zn kg[1] compared to 25.0 mg Zn kg-1 in conventional wheat varieties could result in alleviating zinc malnutrition to the extent of 50% in the malnourished population. Thereby, it is a potential complementary staple food with other contemporary interventions to address malnutrition in Pakistan
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
