Protecting Future Generations, Preventing Stunting in the Womb




Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world and also has strategic geographic location, with abundant natural resources. The development of Indonesia’s human resources (HR) is a part of the process and goal in Indonesia’s national development. The young generation as the nation’s successor must be healthy, intelligent, creative, and productive. If children are born healthy, grow well and are supported by quality education, they will become a generation that supports the success of national development. Conversely, if children are born and grow up in a situation of chronic malnutrition, they will experience stunting. Decreasing malnutrition is a challenge for many countries, mainly developing countries. In Indonesia, malnutrition remains a significant problem among children under five years old.

Stunting is a condition of failure to thrive in children under the age of five due to chronic malnutrition and recurrent infections, especially in the first 1.000 days of life period, calculated from the foetus until the child is 23 months old. Stunting also inhibits cognitive development, which will affect children's intelligence levels and future productivity. Stunting and malnutrition is one of the primary causes of mortality in children less than five years of age. Stunting and other nutritional problems are estimated to reduce gross domestic product (GDP) by around 3% per year.

From Indonesian Nutritional Status Survey (SSGI) 2022 data, it can be seen that from 2021 to 2022, Indonesia experienced a decrease in stunting rates by 2,8%. The 2016 Global Nutrition Report noted that the prevalence of stunting in Indonesia was ranked 108 out of 132 countries. In the Southeast Asia Region, the prevalence of stunting in Indonesia is the second highest after Cambodia. Stunting prevention needs to focus on addressing the direct and indirect causes of nutrition problems. Direct causes include inadequate nutrient intake and infectious diseases.

Nutritional status like micronutrients during pregnancy can have a significant impact on maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Micronutrients play a critical role in cellular and humoral immune responses, cellular signalling and function, reproductive health, learning and cognitive functions. This body cannot synthesize micronutrients, so they can be obtained from supplement.


Several important micronutrients for pregnant women and their functions are as follows.

5-MTHF (Active Folate)

Folate is a water-soluble vitamin B and folate deficiency results in the accumulation of homocysteine, which can increase the risk of adverse outcomes including preeclampsia and foetal anomalies. Supplementation with folate during preconception and early pregnancy is critical and can prevent 40-80% of neural tube defects such as spina bifida. Because the neural tube develops in the first four weeks of pregnancy, the protective effects of folate supplements are diminished after pregnancy is established (3). (6S)-5-MTHF supplementation during pregnancy is preferred over folic acid for its ability to bypass the block in folic acid metabolism linked to enzymatic polymorphism. The use of (6S)-5-MTHF can overcome the concerns about the risk for deleterious effects of Unmetabolized Folic Acid (UMFA) related to the use of a supraphysiological dose of folic acid.

Iodine

Iodine Is an essential nutrient for regulating growth, development and metabolism via the biosynthesis of thyroid hormones including thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Iodine for pregnant woman is need to prevent cretinism in newborn baby. Maternal and foetal thyroid hormones regulate key processes in the development of the foetal brain and nervous system, including the growth of nerve cells, the formation of synapses and myelination.

Iron

Iron is a vital nutrient and cofactor for the synthesis of haemoglobin, as well as several cellular functions including oxygen transport, respiration, growth, gene regulation and the proper functioning of iron-dependent enzymes. Iron deficiency and/or anaemia have been associated with greater risk of preterm birth, LBW or SGA infants, impaired maternal function and decreased defences against infection, as well as abnormal psychomotor development and cognitive function in infancy.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 during pregnancy is essential for your baby's developing brain and spinal cord. It also helps make healthy red blood cells and DNA.

Calcium, Vitamin D, and Vitamin K2

In pregnancy, calcium is actively transported across the placenta and maternal calcium demands increase, particularly during the third semester. Low maternal calcium intake can contribute to osteopenia, paresthesia, muscle cramps, tetanus and tremor in the tremor in the mother, as well as delayed growth, LBW and poor mineralisation in the foetus. Calcium supplementation reduced the risk of preeclampsia by more than 50% in all women. Maternal vitamin D deficiency has been associated with neonatal rickets as well as multiple adverse pregnancy outcomes including gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, and preterm birth. Whereas vitamin K2 also promotes bone and heart health. So, calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K2 works synergistic.

Vitamin C and Vitamin E

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is an essential water-soluble vitamin, whereas vitamin E represents eight fat-soluble, plant-derived compounds: four tocopherols and four tocotrienols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta), with naturally sourced alpha-tocopherol as the most biologically active form. Oxidative stress is thought to be a key mechanism underlying the pathophysiology of several pregnancy complications including preeclampsia, preterm birth, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and premature rupture of membranes. Both vitamins C and E function synergistically to promote antioxidant defences and inhibit free radical formation to prevent oxidative stress.

Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, and Vitamin B6

B-complex vitamins including vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), and B6 (pyridoxine) are water-soluble vitamins required for the production and release of energy in cells and for the metabolism of protein, fat and carbohydrates. These vitamins act as coenzymes in several intermediary metabolic pathways for energy generation and blood cell formation. The requirement for these vitamins is heightened in pregnancy due to increased energy and protein needs, particularly during the third trimester.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin derived from retinoids or provitamin carotenoids. Physiological functions of vitamin A include vision, growth, bone metabolism, immune function and gene transcription as well as antioxidant activities. Some additional vitamin A is needed during pregnancy to support growth and tissue maintenance in the foetus and to provide foetal reserves and aid in maternal metabolism.

Magnesium

Magnesium (Mg) is one of the essential minerals needed by humans in substantial large amounts. Mg work with many enzymes to regulate body temperature, synthesis nucleic acids, and proteins as well maintaining electrical potentials in nerves and muscle membranes. Common causes of Mg deficiency include inadequate dietary intake or gastrointestinal absorption, increased losses through the gastrointestinal or renal systems, and increased the requirement for Mg, such as in pregnancy.

Biotin

Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin (B7) that acts as a coenzyme for multiple carboxylases involved in fatty acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism and gluconeogenesis. Biotin deficiency cause immunodeficiency and infection is regarded as a major risk of preterm birth.

Zinc

The central role of zinc in cell division, protein synthesis and growth means that an adequate supply of zinc is especially important for pregnant women. During pregnancy, zinc and other micronutrient deficiencies are common due to increased nutrient requirements of the mother and the developing fetus. These deficiencies can negatively impact pregnancy outcomes including the health of the mother and newborn infant. Poor maternal zinc status has been associated with foetal loss, congenital malformations, intrauterine growth retardation, reduced birth weight, prolonged labour and preterm or post-term deliveries.

DHA

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation is recommended for women during pregnancy because of its neurological, visual, and cognitive effects. DHA is rapidly integrated into retinal and brain neural tissue during the last three months of pregnancy and plays a significant role in early fetal neurodevelopment.


Pevention Stunting

The prevention of stunting needs coordination between sectors and involves various stakeholders such as the Government, Local Government, the business world, the general public, and others. PT Simex Pharmaceutical Indonesia as one of the pharmaceutical companies in Indonesia also helps to support the government's plan to prevent stunting in children for a better future of the Indonesia. It is better to prevent than to cure, therefore fulfill children's nutrition as early as possible since they are still in the womb!

 

Reference

https://www.kemenkopmk.go.id/membangun-sdm-indonesia-membangun-sinergitas

https://www.who.int/tools/elena/interventions/micronutrients-pregnancy

Kementerian Koordinator Bidang Pembangunan Manusia dan Kebudayaan. Strategi Nasional Percepatan Pencegahan Anak Kerdil (Stunting) Periode 2018-2024

Ernawati F., Syauqy A., Arifin AY., et.al. 2021. Micronutrient Deficiencies and Stunting Were Associated with Socioeconomic Status in Indonesian Children Aged 6-59 Months. Nutrients 2021, 13, 1802.

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Ichihara Y., Suga K., Fukui M., et.al. 2020. Serum biotin level during pregnancy is associated with fetal growth and preterm delivery. J.Med. Invest. 67: 170-173, February 2020.

Jiang Y., Chen Y., Wei L., et.al. 2023. DHA supplementation and pregnancy complications. Journal of Translational Medicine (2023) 21:394.