The Double Burden of Malnutrition Across the Lifecourse Volume 4 - Issue 1

Tumilara Busayo Amoo*

• University of Aberdeen, UK

Received: October 24, 2019;   Published: October 29, 2019

*Corresponding author: Tumilara Busayo Amoo, University of Aberdeen, UK

DOI: 10.32474/LOJMS.2019.04.000176

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Abstract

Nutrition plays an important role in shaping health from pre-conception to old age. The life cycle of humans begins with conception (pregnancy), fetal development, infancy, childhood and adolescence, and ends with adulthood [1]. Fetal development is the period of maximal growth, there is no recovery for growth failure at this stage because the fetus depends not just on the mother’s diet but also her reserves, hence, the need to supplement maternal diet during pregnancy with folic acid, vitamin D, iron, iodine, calcium [2]. The recommended protein intake during pregnancy is 60/day, carbohydrates should comprise 45-64% of daily calories while fat intake should comprise 20-35% of daily calories [3]. Recommended Dietary Allowance is the average daily level of intake sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97-98%) healthy people [4] Infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health [5]. At 6 months, breast milk will no longer be sufficient to meet an infant’s nutritional needs, hence, complementary feeding should be introduced [6] however, breastfeeding should continue until infant is at least 12 months of age [7].

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