Sains Malaysiana 52(7)(2023): 2055-2067

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2023-5207-13

 

Review on Food Insecurity and Its Relationship with Iron and Vitamin B12 Status among Children

 (Tinjauan Ketidakjaminan Makanan serta Hubungannya dengan Status Ferum dan Vitamin B12 dalam Kalangan Kanak-Kanak)

 

WAN SITI FATIMAH WAN ABDUL RAHMAN1, SITI BALKIS BUDIN1,*, TANG SWEE FONG2 & POH BEE KOON1

 

1Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), UKM Specialist Children's Hospital, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

Diserahkan: 25 November 2022/Diterima: 10 Julai 2023

 

Abstract

Iron and vitamin B12 are essential micronutrients needed for the growth and development of children. Iron is critical for erythropoiesis, notably in haemoglobin synthesis whereby haemoglobin transports oxygen to cells, which is essential for cellular metabolism and energy production. Meanwhile, vitamin B12 is required for deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis, intracellular metabolism, and blood cells formation and maturation. Lack of these essential micronutrients can lead to nutritional deficiency and anaemia, especially among children. Food insecurity is a condition where there is a lack of or uncertain availability of acquiring acceptable food. Food insecurity is associated with lower nutrient intake and micronutrient deficiencies including iron and vitamin B12, which can subsequently lead to poor health outcomes. Various determinants are associated with iron and vitamin B12 deficiency, and food insecurity, such as socio-economic factors, environmental factors, and dietary intake. This review will explore the possible relationship between iron, vitamin B12, and anaemia with food insecurity among children. 

 

Keywords: Anaemia; dietary intake; food insecurity; micronutrients; socio-economic factors

 

Abstrak

Ferum dan vitamin B12 adalah mikronutrien penting yang diperlukan bagi tumbesaran dan perkembangan kanak-kanak. Ferum penting untuk eritropoiesis, terutamanya dalam penghasilan hemoglobin kerana hemoglobin berperanan untuk mengangkut oksigen ke sel-sel dan ini penting bagi metabolisme sel dan penghasilan tenaga. Di samping itu, vitamin B12 diperlukan untuk sintesis asid deoksiribonukleik, metabolisme intrasel, serta pembentukan dan pematangan sel darah. Kekurangan mikronutrien penting ini boleh membawa kepada kurang pemakanan dan anemia terutamanya dalam kalangan kanak-kanak. Ketidakjaminan makanan adalah keadaan terdapat kekurangan atau ketersediaan yang tidak pasti untuk memperoleh makanan yang boleh diterima. Ketidakjaminan makanan dikaitkan dengan kekurangan pengambilan nutrien dan kekurangan mikronutrien termasuklah ferum dan vitamin B12 yang seterusnya menyebabkan kesan yang berpanjangan kepada kesihatan. Pelbagai faktor penentu yang dikaitkan dengan kekurangan ferum dan vitamin B12, serta ketidakjaminan makanan seperti status sosioekonomi, faktor persekitaran dan pengambilan makanan. Oleh itu, tinjauan ini bertujuan meneroka hubungan ferum, vitamin B12, dan anemia dengan ketidakjaminan makanan dalam kalangan kanak-kanak.

 

Kata kunci: Anemia; faktor sosioekonomi; ketidakjaminan makanan; mikronutrien; pengambilan makanan

 

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat, email: balkis@ukm.edu.my

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

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