ABSTRACT

Malnutrition manifests as undernutrition or overnutrition. Micronutrient deficiencies are public health concern worldwide. There is evidence that probiotics can enhance micronutrient status, which could assist in the prevention of non-communicable diseases associated with malnutrition. This review assesses the evidence of the impact of probiotic to improve the status of micronutrients. The intake of certain specific probiotics was correlated with a beneficial effect on the status of several micronutrients. Malnutrition continues to imperil the existence of millions of people worldwide, with children being the most severely affected. The main causes of childhood malnutrition are inadequate access to food and infectious diseases, but the microbiota of the gut may also contribute. The diet affects the gut microbiota of children, which can thus affect their nutritional status. Malnutrition can hinder growth and weaken immune defense, increasing susceptibility to infections. Diarrhea, a significant cause of malnutrition, is broadly perceived by pathogenic components of the gut microbiota. Diarrhea results in poor absorption of certain essential nutrients and decreased energy availability resulting in weight loss. The term global malnutrition is connected to the usage of probiotics as a preventive method to reduce vulnerability in children and frailty in the elder. The risk of malnutrition combined with the frailty syndrome, with a history of poor microbiota during childhood, can make it difficult for the patient to recover and can even lead to death. Conversely, the probiotics when administered can make the intervention timelier and avoid severe complications, even with a fatal outcome. Keywords: Malnutrition, Probiotics, Micronutrients, Gut microbiota, Childhood Nutrition
Publication date: 01/11/2025

https://ijbpas.com/pdf/2025/November/MS_IJBPAS_2025_9488.pdf

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https://doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2025/14.11.9488