The National Program for Optimization of Provision with Vitamins and Minerals of Children in Russia. Summary Review of the Document

Providing the body with micronutrients — vitamins and minerals — is an indispensable component of human health and is essential in the early stages of ontogenesis. However, studies conducted abroad and in our country show that due to the fact that the content of micronutrients in the daily ration can vary significantly, it is impossible to provide the necessary consumption them with food. This is confirmed by data on the high incidence of insufficient provision with vitamins and minerals of all strata of the population. In February 2017 at the congress of the Union of Pediatricians of Russia, the consensus paper «The National Program for Optimization of Provision with Vitamins and Minerals of Children in Russia» was presented. It sums up the results of the work of expert group including pediatricians, nutritionists, clinical pharmacologists, biochemists, vitaminologists, neonatologists, gastroenterologists, allergologists-immunologists, psychoneurologists, and others from several cities of Russia. The first chapter of the document highlights general issues including a definition of concepts, current epidemiological data on provision, and methodological approaches. The second chapter presents the evidence base for the use of vitamins and minerals in different areas of pediatrics. The purpose of this publication is to acquaint a wide range of the pediatric community with the main provisions of the document