Improving nutrition and immunity with dry chain and integrated pest management food technologies in LMICs

摘要

Preventive public health measures to cope withnon-communicable and infectious diseases includeimproving immunity through better nutrition.Immune dysfunction is regarded as both a cause anda consequence of malnutrition. Malnutrition is a dailykiller in low-income and-middle income countries(LMICs), and evidence suggests that susceptibility toand severity of infections increases with malnutrition,leading to illness and death. Undernutrition interactswith repeated bouts of infectious disease, causingan estimated 3·5 million preventable maternal andchild deaths annually. 1 Recognising the central roleof nutrition in improving immunity and reducingmorbidity and mortality, the UN is implementing itsScaling Up Nutrition initiative in 61 LMICs. Furthermore,12 of 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals are relatedto nutrition. Nutrition needs have been particularlyhighlighted by the current economic and food supplychain disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.