Micronutrient Deficiency Status Among Children in Vietnam

According to the Press Release of the Press Correspondents’ Conference on Micronutrient Day (June 1–2, 2018), published by the National Institute of Nutrition, Vietnam has made significant progress in improving child nutrition. However, micronutrient deficiency remains an important public health concern, particularly among children and other high-risk groups.

How Common Is Micronutrient Deficiency Among Vietnamese Children?

The report from the National Institute of Nutrition, based on the findings of the Survey on the Status of Selected Micronutrient Deficiencies Among Women and Children Aged 6–59 Months in 2014–2015, provides an overview of the situation and shows that deficiencies in several essential micronutrients remained alarmingly prevalent among Vietnamese children.

‍Vitamin A Deficiency

Although Vietnam officially eliminated clinical vitamin A deficiency blindness in 1995, subclinical vitamin A deficiency remains a concern.

According to the 2014–2015 survey cited by the National Institute of Nutrition, 13.0% of children under five had subclinical vitamin A deficiency. Notably, the prevalence varied significantly across regions, reaching as high as 16.1% in some mountainous areas.

These findings highlight the continued need for vitamin A deficiency prevention and control, with ongoing monitoring and greater attention to children at higher risk.

Anemia and Iron Deficiency

Anemia in young children is one of the major nutritional burdens that can directly affect cognitive and physical development.

According to the same nationwide survey conducted in 2014–2015, 27.8% of children under five were affected by anemia. The highest prevalence was observed among children aged 6–24 months, ranging from 42.7% to 45%.

Notably, iron deficiency accounted for 63.6% of anemia cases among children under five.

These figures highlight iron as a key micronutrient that deserves particular attention in nutritional formulations for young children, especially during periods of rapid growth when physiological nutrient requirements increase to support physical and cognitive development.

Zinc Deficiency

Alongside iron, zinc deficiency was also found to be highly prevalent among children.

Results from the 2014–2015 micronutrient survey showed that 69.4% of children under five were zinc deficient, a prevalence classified as having a severe public health significance. The situation was even more pronounced in mountainous areas (80.8%) and rural areas (71.6%).

The significant differences between regions reflect the influence of socioeconomic conditions, living environments, access to a diverse range of foods, and overall dietary quality on children's micronutrient status.

Vitamin D and Calcium Also Require Attention

Alongside vitamin A, iron, and zinc, vitamin D and calcium play essential roles in building strong bones and supporting children's height development.

Based on a 2010 micronutrient survey conducted across 19 provinces and cities, as cited by the National Institute of Nutrition, 21% of children had deficient serum vitamin D levels, while 37% had low vitamin D levels. When a threshold of 75 nmol/L was applied, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was reported to reach 90%.

The report also highlighted a significant nutritional gap: at the time of the survey, actual vitamin D and calcium intake among Vietnamese women and children met only approximately 1% and less than 43% of recommended requirements, respectively.

Technical note: The vitamin D and calcium figures are based on the 2010 survey, while the data on vitamin A, anemia, and zinc primarily come from the 2014–2015 survey. These are official figures published by the National Institute of Nutrition in its 2018 press release and should be viewed as an overview of nutritional epidemiological trends rather than current prevalence estimates.

How Can Micronutrient Deficiency Affect Children?

Although required in small amounts, micronutrients act as critical cofactors in numerous physiological, metabolic, and developmental processes throughout the body.

According to the National Institute of Nutrition, micronutrient deficiencies can negatively affect health, physical capacity, stature, and cognitive development, while also creating significant barriers to children's overall growth and development. Furthermore, micronutrient deficiency has been identified as one of the key factors contributing to stunting in developing countries, including Vietnam.

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The nutritional landscape also reveals significant geographical disparities. In 2016, the national prevalence of stunting among children under five was 24.3%, compared with 30.3% in the Northern mountainous region and as high as 34.2% in the Central Highlands. The National Institute of Nutrition emphasized that the combined burden of stunting and micronutrient deficiencies is a major factor limiting the average height of Vietnam's younger generations.

Why Is Micronutrient Fortification Important?

Addressing micronutrient deficiencies goes beyond the periodic supplementation of individual vitamins or minerals. Based on the strategy outlined by the National Institute of Nutrition, a comprehensive approach is needed, including micronutrient supplementation for high-risk groups, greater dietary diversity in household and school meals, and particularly micronutrient fortification of staple foods.

Among these approaches, fortifying staple food products with essential micronutrients is considered an effective strategy for achieving broad population coverage, long-term sustainability, and meaningful improvements in daily nutrient intake.

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Download the Report on Micronutrient Deficiency in Vietnam for Free

The data presented in this article is compiled from the Press Release of the Press Correspondents’ Conference on Micronutrient Day (June 1–2, 2018) published by the National Institute of Nutrition.

If you would like to learn more about vitamin A deficiency, anemia, zinc deficiency, vitamin D, calcium, and iodine in Vietnam, as well as strategies for preventing and addressing micronutrient deficiencies, download the original report from the National Institute of Nutrition for free.

Download the Report for Free – National Institute of Nutrition

Source: National Institute of Nutrition – Ministry of Health, Press Release of the Press Correspondents’ Conference on Micronutrient Day (June 1–2, 2018).

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