5. Conclusions
NUTRITIONAL ANEMIA, UNDERNUTRITION
Locally produced micronutrient powder (local name: Vita-Mixe) supplementation is an effective intervention to increase the micronutrient level, especially plasma zinc, plasma vitamin A, and vitamin D in children. The MNP supplementation significantly improved the WHZ and WAZ scores, while no such statistically significant effect was observed on HAZ scores. It was also effective in improving hemoglobin levels, which is one of the key biomarkers for the child’s nutritional anemia. Micronutrient powder supplementation is, therefore, a cost-effective intervention that can be scaled up among the most food-insecure areas/households to address the alarming rates of undernutrition in Pakistan and other developing countries.