Abstract
Stunting (low height for age), an important indicator of undernutrition, predisposes children to lifelong challenges including reduced physical development, increased susceptibility to chronic diseases, lower intelligence quotient and school test scores, and reduced economic or productive capacity. Consequently, stunting reduces gross domestic product globally by about 7%, and by 9 to 10% in Africa and South Asia, according to World Bank researchers. Undernutrition is one of the leading causes of stunting, yet some of the most deficient micronutrients globally – vitamin A, iron, iodine, zinc, and folic acid – are readily available in animal-source foods (ASF). In fact, ASF are the best sources of bioavailable high-quality nutrient-rich food for children aged 6 to 23 months according to the World Health Organization. This is largely because ASF supply more high quality protein and bioavailable vitamin A, vitamin D3, iron, iodine, zinc, calcium and folic acid, than plant-source foods. In addition, ASF are the only natural source of vitamin B12,whichis deficient in pregnant women in several developing countries, potentially contributing to poorer cognitive function of their offspring. The importance of dietary ASF is evident from a recent study that showed that consumption of one egg a day by 6 to 9 month-old Ecuadorian infants reduced stunting by 47%, which is much greater than reductions due to other interventions. In addition, meat and milk supplementation increased test scores of Kenyan school children by 45 and 28%, respectively in another study. This paper will review the evidence for using ASF to reduce stunting, highlight the association between the low ASF consumption and relatively high stunting rates in several low-income countries, and discuss strategies to increase ASF consumption and thereby improve nutritional, educational and economic development.