The definition of stunting according to WHO is a developmental disorder experienced by children due to malnutrition, repeated infections, and inadequate psychosocial stimulation. More specifically, a child is defined as being stunted if the child’s height is lower or shorter than the standard age.
Stunting that occurs early in life, or in the first 1000 days, starting from the womb until the age of two years, will give detrimental functional impairment to the child. Some of these consequences are the ability to receive low learning and low concentration levels, as well as the risk of developing nutrition-related diseases in adulthood.
Through a journal published by the Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, one of the main causes of stunting is the quality of nutrition obtained from foods that do not meet the nutritional requirements for children to be able to grow optimally.
Spirulina is a food solution that can be used to treat stunting. Through a study conducted by the Randomized Control Trial in Zambia, a group of children under two years of age who were given spirulina porridge and grits showed better motoric development than those who did not. Various important nutrients such as protein, calcium and other micronutrients, which are contained in spirulina, also made this group also have an 11% lower chance of experiencing coughs and respiratory infections.
Another study, published in the Maternal and Pediatric Nutrition Journal, showed that children under the age of five who were routinely given spirulina supplementation for 3 months experienced a significant increase in height and weight.
Reference:
Edward A. Frongillo Jr, Symposium: Causes and Etiology of Stunting / Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University / Ithaca, NY, 14853–6301, 1999 /https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jean-Pierre-Habicht/ publication / 7941399_Introduction / links / 5711746208aeebe07c024599 / Introduction.pdf.
Masuda K, Chitundu M. Multiple micronutrient supplementation using spirulina platensis and infant growth, morbidity, and motor development: Evidence from a randomized trial in Zambia. Plos One / 2019; 14 (2): 1-19
Abed E, Ihab AN. Suliman E. Mahmoud, A Impact of Spirulina on nutritional status, hematological profile and anemia status in malnourished children in the Gaza strip; Randomized clinical trial, Maternal and Pediatric Nutrition Journal, 2016; (2); 1-6.