Programs of nutritional supplementation and micronutrient enrichment of foods in Chile

Abstract

Food supplementation and food fortification programs in Chile date from the beginning of the last century. These programs have been continuously adjusted , adapting to the epidemiologic changes of our population. The programs currently in force embrace children, pregnant women, aged people and some specific groups of high risk. The purpose of all such programs continues to be focused on maintaining the best nutritional state of our population. The most important achievements that can be highlighted comprise the reduction of great public health problems, such as child malnutrition, infants anemia, malnutrition of pregnant women, endemic goiter and other more recent achievements such as the reduction of the prevalence of neural tube malformations and a better nutritional state and functionality in the elderly. Future challenges are: to further improve these programs as to their population coverage; quality of the products according to new and special needs; and to contribute to the reduction of obesity and of the prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases of adults.