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As part of the ongoing work on revising the 2004 Sphere project hand book, I have been asked to initiate an informal consultation and discussion. This has the aim of identifying any existing gaps in indicators or guidance notes relating to micronutrients. In particular, we are keen to obtain views on:
. the micronutrients currently included in the Appendix on Nutritional Requirement (Appendix 7, p189) and recommendations for which should be included in the 2010 edition. the cut off points for classifying the public health significance of micronutrient malnutrition contained in Appendix 6 (p187), and the possible need for additional indicators
As a starting point for the discussion/consultation I would like to offer a draft proposal for amendment of the micronutrients contained in Appendix 7.
Appendix 7 currently includes 17 micronutrients and minerals:
Vitamin A Vitamin D Vitamin EVitamin KThiamine (B1)Riboflavin (B2) Niacin (B3) Vitamin B12 Folic acid Vitamin C Iron IodineMagnesium Zinc SeleniumBiotinPantothenate
An amended list is proposed (shown below) that also contains 17 micronutrients but is adjusted to take into account the contents of the UN Joint Statement on 'Preventing and controlling micronutrient deficiencies in populations affected by an emergency' (2007). In addition to the micronutrients included in the joint statement, Pantothenate and Calcium have been retained from the Sphere 2004 list due to evidence of their importance in calcium dependent rickets and a B vitamin deficiency syndrome reported in prisoners of war.
Please bear I mind that the objective here is not to compile a list of all the micronutrients required for human health, but rather to focus attention on those that the emergency nutrition community should currently be prioritising, based on the available evidence.
Vitamin AVitamin DVitamin EVitamin B1Vitamin B2Vitamin B3Vitamin B6Vitamin B12FolatePanthothenic AcidVitamin CIronIodineZincCalciumCopperSelenium
We invite comments and discussion on the above proposal as well as the indicators contained in Appendix 6 of the Sphere manual. Please post comments below.
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