VOA标准英语2011--Micronutrient Powders Effective in Reduc

Micronutrient Powders Effective in Reducing Anemia¹ in Children

Nutrients² taken in powder form are effective in preventing malnutrition³ in children, according to new findings.
Children throughout the developing world suffer from anemia - a shortage of red blood cells - and iron deficiency. In recent years, iron and other nutrients have been available in powder form.
In the study, scientists set out to evaluate the effectiveness of these micronutrient supplements.
Malnutrition is a complicated condition. Sometimes it's about not getting enough food. Other times, it's about not getting the right food. For young children, that can be the vitamins and minerals that are a key part of the nourishment⁴ they need to grow strong and healthy.
For decades, children at risk of not getting enough iron have been given iron supplements. But now scientists understand that other vitamins and minerals are important, too.
So in recent years, mothers of at-risk children have been getting little packets loaded with these important micronutrients to supplement their youngsters' usual diet. World Health Organization epidemiologist Luz Maria De Regil says they're easy to use.
"Basically they just sprinkle the powders into the foods, into the baby's foods," she says. "So the idea is fortifying⁶ the food at home or at any other place of consumption without changing the physical characteristics of the foods."
But what about their effectiveness?
De Regil and other researchers combined the results of eight previous studies involving thousands of children. The studies were done on three continents, in countries as varied⁷ as Haiti, Cambodia, and Ghana.
This systematic⁸ review found that the micronutrient powder was very helpful in preventing malnutrition.
"The use of multiple micronutrient powders is a very good option to fortify⁵ the infant food and reduce anemia and iron deficiency in children aged⁹ six months to two years of age," De Regil says.
Specifically, the supplement powder reduced anemia by about one-third and iron deficiency by half compared to no supplement or a placebo¹⁰.
Compared with traditional iron supplements, however, the results were less clear. The micronutrient powder seem to be about equally effective as iron supplements, but the authors say that conclusion should be treated "cautiously," because of limited data.

1 anemia   

n.贫血，贫血症

参考例句：

• The doctors analyzed the blood sample for anemia. 医生们分析了贫血的血样。
• I was put on iron tablets for my anemia.我曾因贫血吃补铁药片。

2 nutrients   

n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
• Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 malnutrition   

n.营养不良

参考例句：

• In Africa, there are a lot of children suffering from severe malnutrition.在非洲有大批严重营养不良的孩子。
• It is a classic case of malnutrition. 这是营养不良的典型病例。

4 nourishment   

n.食物，营养品；营养情况

参考例句：

• Lack of proper nourishment reduces their power to resist disease.营养不良降低了他们抵抗疾病的能力。
• He ventured that plants draw part of their nourishment from the air.他大胆提出植物从空气中吸收部分养分的观点。

5 fortify   

v.强化防御，为…设防；加强，强化

参考例句：

• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。
• This treaty forbade the United States to fortify the canal.此条约禁止美国对运河设防。

6 fortifying   

筑防御工事于( fortify的现在分词 )； 筑堡于； 增强； 强化（食品）

参考例句：

• Fortifying executive function and restraining impulsivity are possible with active interventions. 积极干预可能有助加强执行功能和抑制冲动性。
• Vingo stopped looking, tightening his face, fortifying himself against still another disappointment. 文戈不再张望，他绷紧脸，仿佛正在鼓足勇气准备迎接另一次失望似的。

7 varied   

adj.多样的，多变化的

参考例句：

• The forms of art are many and varied.艺术的形式是多种多样的。
• The hotel has a varied programme of nightly entertainment.宾馆有各种晚间娱乐活动。

8 systematic   

adj.有系统的，有计划的，有方法的

参考例句：

• The way he works isn't very systematic.他的工作不是很有条理。
• The teacher made a systematic work of teaching.这个教师进行系统的教学工作。

9 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

10 placebo   

n.安慰剂；宽慰话

参考例句：

• The placebo has been found to work with a lot of different cases.人们已发现安慰剂能在很多不同的病例中发挥作用。
• The placebo effect refers to all the observable behaviors caused by placebo.安慰剂效应是指由安慰剂所引起的可观察的行为。