Interventions to improve vitamin and mineral inadequacies among children in India: a scoping review

Introduction: Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are commonly seen in children, and they affect the physical, mental and cognitive development of a child. Objective: This study aimed to map interventions to improve vitamin and mineral inadequacies among children in India. Methods: A review was conducted using the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) 2018 checklist. Based on the PICO framework, further steps were followed in conducting the review. Studies conducted on children and adolescents (ranging in age from 6 months to 19 years) in India were considered. A search was carried out in PubMed, CINAHL, ProQuest, Cochrane Library, Scopus and Web of Science. Interventions that focused on improving vitamin and mineral inadequacies were collated. Studies published in the English language between 1 January 2012, and 30 September 2023, were included. The data from the included studies were reported narratively. Results: The search yielded 1566 records through the databases. Finally, 18 studies were found to be eligible to be considered in this review. For improving vitamin and mineral deficiencies, different types of supplements like iron, vitamins A, C and D in different amounts; nutritional supplements like zinc-rich foods, whole-wheat recipes, milk, lipid-based vitamin B12 supplements, ragi, porridge and iron-fortified whole-wheat drinks; or nutritional counselling worked better in children. Conclusion: Vitamin and mineral supplementation for children reduces anaemia among children. Policymakers need to develop a strategy to increase awareness among parents, AWWs, caregivers and schoolteachers to reduce further complications.