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Systematic Review of the Dietary Intakes of Adolescent Girls in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries
Author(s) -
Elliot Victoria,
Lutter Chessa,
Lamstein Sascha,
KonizBooher Peggy,
Caulfield Laura
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.898.4
Subject(s) - low and middle income countries , low income , environmental health , medicine , economics , socioeconomics , developing country , economic growth
To provide greater understanding of the dietary intakes of adolescent girls (10‐20 y) in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMIC), a systematic literature review was conducted to identify studies with relevant data. Food consumption of adolescent girls in LMIC was examined, and macronutrient and micronutrient intakes were evaluated with respect to the FAO/WHO Estimated Average Requirements and compared by WHO region. Of the 14,187 studies screened, 85 articles with dietary data were analyzed. Energy intakes vary between and within regions, but are relatively lower in the Western Pacific and South East Asia (SEA). Percentages of energy from carbohydrates and fats are inversely related, with fat intake being relatively high in studies across regions. Energy from protein generally remains within the recommended range, except in SEA, where it is more variable. Of the micronutrients reviewed, prevalence of inadequacy tends to be above 50% for iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin D, folate, thiamin and riboflavin. Cereal‐based diets, with low consumption of nutrient dense foods, characterize intakes across regions. Concurrent increase in consumption of energy dense and sugary foods in urban areas reflects the nutrition transition among adolescents in LMIC. Thus, adolescent girls in LMIC face similar issues to all women of childbearing age: imbalanced macronutrient and inadequate micronutrient intakes and consumption of nutrient poor foods. Public health efforts must foster access to nutrient rich local foods and micronutrient supplementation and fortification to improve the diets of adolescent girls and future mothers in LMIC. [Supported by USAID/SPRING]