Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals our bodies need in small amounts. However, despite needing only small amounts, they are critical to our overall health. Any deficiencies can cause severe and even life-threatening conditions. For our most vulnerable, infants, micronutrition and breastfeeding can go hand in hand.

Micronutrients play a role in many functions such as enabling the body to create enzymes, hormones and other important substances for growth and development. The most common deficiencies are iron, vitamin A, and iodine. Pregnant women and children are most at risk. We also see an increased risk in low- and middle-income countries.

Beyond serious health conditions, deficiencies can also reduce energy level, mental clarity and overall capacity. This impacts educational outcomes, work productivity, and long-term health risks.

The good news, many of these deficiencies are preventable. As a CBC, you can help parents understand how human milk is tailored perfectly for the nutritional needs of human infants. You can also help educate lactating parents about the importance of a well-rounded diet. That said, you can also combat misinformation that parents should cease breastfeeding if they have dietary concerns.

Micronutrition and Breastfeeding

How are micronutrition and breastfeeding related? Well, as mentioned, human breast milk is perfectly tailored for human infants. One of the recommendations of the World Health Organization to combat micronutrient deficiencies is to increase breastfeeding rates.

Globally, around 45% of child deaths are related to undernutrition. In addition to that major concern, there is the concern for others with deficiencies facing growth and development problems.

When more infants and young children have access to breastfeeding, fewer will face nutritional deficiencies.

While it is vital that lactating parents also have access to good nutrition, evidence shows that even in harsh dietary conditions, human breast milk provides good nutrition and protection.

At birth, term infants typically have enough iron stores to last through six months of life. While breastmilk contains only a small amount of iron, it is easily absorbed. While it is recommended infants have complimentary foods around six months to aid in iron intake, breastmilk does provide some iron.

Breastmilk also contains iodine, a vital nutrient. However, levels can vary based on maternal iodine levels. When we ensure lactating parents have adequate iodine levels, we can reduce the risk of iodine deficiency in breastfed babies and children.

According to the WHO, “Breastfeeding is the best way to protect babies from vitamin A deficiency and, in areas where vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem, vitamin A supplementation is recommended in infants and children 6-59 months of age.”

Breastfeeding can provide protection against micro deficiencies in infancy. This is especially true in areas where formula may not be readily available. Even when formula is readily available, breastfeeding provides more protection against deficiencies for most infants. An exception would of course be rare circumstances such as galactosemia.

How Do We Reduce Micronutrient Deficiencies?

As a certified breastfeeding counselor, you are not a registered dietician and thus you do not make specific dietary or supplement recommendations. However, you can provide general education and point clients to appropriate resources.

According to the WHO, we can combat some deficiencies by:

“WHO works with Member States and partners to prevent micronutrient deficiencies though a number of programmes and following the WHO 2016–2025 nutrition strategy. These programmes include iron and folic acid supplementation, high dose vitamin A supplementation, the promotion of breastfeeding, fortification of foods with micronutrients, and healthy, diverse diets containing foods naturally rich in vitamin and minerals.”

As you can see, it is recommended to promote breastfeeding. As a CBC, you can take part in this global effort by providing lactation support and education within your community.