Interventions for managing hidden hunger syndrome in children: a review of current evidence

Resumo

Introduction: Hidden hunger syndrome (HHS) is characterized by a silent deficiency of essential micronutrients that negatively impacts child growth, development, and well-being. The prevalence of HHS is high in vulnerable populations, and it is a condition that is difficult to diagnose without specific tests because it presents with no or minimal clinical manifestations. Objective: to summarize and present current evidence on therapeutic interventions in children with HHS. Methods: This is a narrative review of the literature conducted by including original articles that used randomized clinical trial and systematic review designs, published in scientific journals indexed in the PubMed database, between 2020 and 2024. Results: Five original articles met the eligibility criteria and evidenced that micronutrient supplementation (e.g., iron, zinc, and vitamin A) and/or educational/behavioral strategies (e.g., lecture, informational material, and counseling) improved children's nutritional status, reducing anemia, increasing serum micronutrient levels, and promoting healthy eating habits. Specifically, iron supplementation significantly improved cognitive function in infants and schoolchildren. In addition, food fortification/biofortification stood out as viable alternatives for clinically addressing HHS. Conclusion: Micronutrient supplementation and educational strategies are crucial in the treatment of the HHS, impacting nutritional profile and child development. However, the scarcity of important clinical outcomes, such as mortality, limits the scope of the results and further studies are needed to improve interventions and public policies aimed at reducing HHS in children.