RESEARCH
Dairy crucial for children’s health By Samantha Tennent
A World Health Organisation study shows the importance dairy products play in the growth and development of children.
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n 2019, the global burden of severe acute malnutrition of children was estimated to affect 14.3 million children between six months and five years of age, and estimates a million children die with severe acute malnutrition each year. But these deaths can be prevented through the administration of ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF). With trial work exploring alternative protein sources to reduce costs of RUTF, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has released a joint statement confirming at least 50% of the proteins in RUTF should come from dairy products. Experts continually stress that the essential amino acid (EAA) content of animal-based proteins, like dairy, contribute to their superior quality compared with plant-based proteins. “We welcome the WHO’s decision to prioritise dairy-based recipes as an effective way to treat and reduce acute malnutrition in children,” deputy chairperson of the Standing Committee Nutrition and Health, International Dairy Federation and senior nutrition scientist at Dairy UK Erica Hocking says. “This reflects the strong and robust data which supports the benefits of milk proteins for the growth and development of children.” The statement came from the WHO jointly with the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations System Standing Committee on Nutrition (UNSSCN) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). They confirmed the available evidence was not enough to justify a change in the current recommendation that RUTF should have at least 50% of protein coming from dairy. Their report states the efficacy outcomes favour the standard RUTF, while there is no robust data from producers to demonstrate that reducing
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the dairy content will reduce the costs and resource requirements of RUTF. Therefore the group did not recommend the use of the reduced/ no dairy formulations, but noted the potential of these alternative formulations if more evidence of efficacy and cost-effectiveness is generated. First developed in 1996, RUTF are soft or crushable foods that can be consumed easily by children from the age of six months without adding water. Before their development, the only treatment options available required preparation and administration by qualified health workers and was only used in hospitals. But with RUTF, most children aged six months or older with severe acute malnutrition can be safely treated in their communities, without requiring admission to a health facility or a therapeutic feeding centre. Successful treatment involves timely detection of severe acute malnutrition in the community, quick assessment of appetite and treating those without medical complications with RUTF, combined with basic orally-administered medication to treat infections. Milk is considered the most expensive ingredient in standard RUTF. The suggestion is to replace dairy with alternative sources of protein to significantly reduce the costs while maintaining the nutritional composition of RUTF recommended. If produced locally at a lower cost, the alternative formulations may improve the scalability of treatment. Although reducing the cost of RUTF would increase access to treatment for children with severe acute malnutrition, more evidence is needed to support alternatives. The link between dairy consumption and child health is well known. Dairy is a nutrient-rich package that contains not only high-quality
Deputy chairperson of the Standing Committee Nutrition and Health, International Dairy Federation Erica Hocking says they welcome the World Health Organisation’s decision to use dairy products to combat malnutrition.
protein, but also the essential nutrients calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iodine and vitamins B2 and B12, which are all important nutrients for child development. The proteins found in dairy are in many ways superior to plant proteins, providing a complete source of high-quality protein and better digestibility. WHO’s determination is another example of the numerous scientists, nutritionists and expert bodies that continue to recognise the essential role that dairy provides in nourishing the world, particularly children and vulnerable populations. Dairy is an irreplaceable component of the food system, and WHO again determined that it must continue to be the protein of choice in lifesaving malnutrition interventions. n
DAIRY FARMER
June 2021
