Fortification of foods with vitamin D in India.

Ritu G,Ajay Gupta

doi:10.3390/nu6093601

Abstract

Vitamin D deficiency is widely prevalent in India, despite abundant sunshine. Fortification of staple foods with vitamin D is a viable strategy to target an entire population. Vitamin D fortification programs implemented in the United States and Canada have improved the vitamin D status in these countries, but a significant proportion of the population is still vitamin D deficient. Before fortification programs are designed and implemented in India, it is necessary to study the efficacy of the American and Canadian vitamin D fortification programs and then improve upon them to suit the Indian scenario. This review explores potential strategies that could be used for the fortification of foods in the Indian context. These strategies have been proposed considering the diverse dietary practices necessitated by social, economic, cultural and religious practices and the diverse climatic conditions in India. Fortification of staple foods, such as chapati flour, maida, rice flour and rice, may be more viable strategies. Targeted fortification strategies to meet the special nutritional needs of children in India are discussed separately in a review entitled, “Fortification of foods with vitamin D in India: Strategies targeted at children”.

Highlights

Micronutrient deficiencies tend to exist where diets lack diversity and intake of animal products is minimal
6 Methods of measuring vitamin D in foods are available [47,48] and will be important in regulating and enforcing the levels of vitamin D added to foods
This review suggested strategies for mass prevention of calcium and vitamin D deficiency by fortification of foods with these nutrients in India [56]

Summary

Introduction

Micronutrient deficiencies tend to exist where diets lack diversity and intake of animal products is minimal. One of the consequences of industrialization is reduced intake of many micronutrients, because of the large dependence of the food industry on salt, sugar, vegetable fats and refined cereals, all of which are poor sources of vitamins and minerals. Individuals whose diets depend heavily on these products often do not meet the daily requirement of many micronutrients. Micronutrient malnutrition is a widespread problem throughout the world, and it has both health and economic consequences. In poor countries, this deficiency is exacerbated by systemic infections and parasitic diseases that reduce nutrient absorption and biological utilization. In the last hundred years, clinicians and nutritionists have had to shift their focus from protein sufficiency to energy sufficiency and to micronutrient sufficiency

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