There is a physiological synergism between malnutrition and infection, but its implications have not been addressed in current child survival policies and programmes. A recent analysis of 28 epidemiologic studies of the malnutrition-mortality relationship concluded that the relationship is consistent across diverse world populations; a significant effect exists of mild to moderate malnutrition (MMM), as well as of severe malnutrition; and the effect is not simply due to confounding by socioeconomic factors or intercurrent illness. An empirically based model suggests that by potentiating infection, malnutrition accounts for 56% of child deaths, 83% of which are due to MMM. These estimates are far higher than conventional figures that do not take account of potentiation and MMM.
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CITATION STYLE
Pelletier, D. L. (1995). Potentiating effects of malnutrition on child mortality: epidemiologic evidence and policy implications. Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 16(3), 206–213. https://doi.org/10.1177/156482659501600304