ON FOOD fORTI - DOH Central Library - Department of Health

10.
o
A Report on Food Fortification
Prevalence of goiter by sex, age, and physiological state, Philippines, .1993
Age/Sex/Physiologic State
Males
7-14 Y
15-20Y
. 21 Yand over
Females
. 7-14 Y
15-20Y
21 Yand over
Pregnant
13-20Y
21-49 Y
Lactating
13-20Y
21-49 Y
TOTAL
Total Subjects
2,383
994
4,244
Total with Goiter
0.7
3.1
1.5
2,195 4.5
841 15.2
3,666· 10.3
84 26.5
693 23.0 -'
76 24.2
962 18.1
16,138 6.9
Source: Fourth National Nutrition Survey, Philippines, 1993, DOST-FNRI
Even environmentaldegradationhas
serious implications on hidden hunger
as soil erosion brings with it the iodine
which is found in the topsoil.
CONSEQUENCES OF HIDDEN
fJUNGER
Hidden hunger results in various
degrees ofphysical andmental deformities
and abnormalities such as:
VitaminA Deficiency: blindness, increased
risk of infections which are often more
severe among those deficient in the
vitamin, increased risk of deaths among
women and children, and growth
retardation.
Iron Deficiency Anemia: poor growth,
sickness, poor school performance, more
low birth weight babies who face a higher
risk of getting sick, being malnourished
and even dying prematurely, more child
andmotherdeaths, low workproductivity.
Iodine Deficiency: results in a wide range
of physical and mental abnormalities .
which are collectively called iodine
deficiency disorders: growth retardation,
low learningability, increased risk of death
among children, pregnancy wastage as