Micronutrient Supplementation and Anemia Management in Adolescents

Adolescence is marked by rapid growth and increased nutritional requirements, rendering this age group particularly vulnerable to micronutrient deficiencies and anaemia. Iron deficiency remains the most prevalent cause of anaemia in young people, though deficiencies of folate, vitamin B12, and other micronutrients also contribute to impaired cognitive development, reduced physical performance, and adverse reproductive outcomes. Interventions to address this burden range from single‐nutrient approaches, such as weekly iron‐folic acid supplementation, to multiple micronutrient formulations designed to tackle coexisting deficits. School‐based platforms, community health programmes and digital reminder systems have been deployed to improve adherence, while fortification and dietary diversification strategies seek to ensure sustainable intake. Effective anaemia management in adolescents requires not only the provision of supplements but also education, monitoring of haemoglobin and ferritin levels, deworming where helminth infections are endemic, and engagement with families and educators. Recent research has focused on optimising delivery methods, understanding psychosocial barriers to compliance and evaluating the relative benefits of combined micronutrient regimens.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Investigations in sub‐Saharan Africa have elucidated factors that influence adherence to weekly iron‐folic acid supplementation among schoolgirls. A large cross‐sectional survey revealed that almost half of participants failed to complete three months of uninterrupted supplementation. Key predictors of non-compliance included frequent school absenteeism, limited access to health education materials and a lack of familial support for the programme. Girls who had prior knowledge of anaemia and those in higher academic standing were more likely to adhere. The findings underscore the importance of integrated health education, reliable supply of supplements and supportive environments both at home and in educational settings to achieve optimal coverage and sustained improvements in iron status.

Micronutrient Supplementation and Anemia Management in Adolescents publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in micronutrient supplementation and anemia management in adolescents across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Adolescents: Individuals between 10 and 19 years of age undergoing rapid physical, cognitive and reproductive maturation.

Anaemia: A condition characterised by a deficiency in the number or function of red blood cells or haemoglobin, leading to reduced oxygen transport.

Iron‐deficiency anaemia: A form of anaemia caused by insufficient iron to synthesise haemoglobin, often exacerbated by growth spurts and menstrual blood loss.

Micronutrient supplementation: The provision of vitamins and minerals in tablet, capsule or syrup form to correct or prevent nutrient deficiencies.

Compliance: The extent to which individuals adhere to prescribed supplementation schedules, influenced by access, knowledge and social support.

Haemoglobin concentration: The amount of haemoglobin in blood, measured in grams per decilitre, used as an indicator of anaemia severity.

References

1. School-based supplementation with iron-folic acid or multiple micronutrient tablets to address anemia among adolescents in Burkina Faso: a cluster-randomized trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2023).
2. Factors associated with compliance with weekly iron and folic acid supplementation among school adolescent girls in Debub Achefer district, northwest Ethiopia: school-based cross-sectional study. Scientific Reports (2024).
3. Impact of a school‐based nutrition educational intervention on knowledge related to iron deficiency anaemia in rural Karnataka, India: A mixed methods pre–post interventional study. BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (2023).
4. Effects of Preventive Nutrition Interventions among Adolescents on Health and Nutritional Status in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients (2019).
5. Elimination of Iron Deficiency Anemia and Soil Transmitted Helminth Infection: Evidence from a Fifty-four Month Iron-Folic Acid and De-worming Program. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases (2013).