![]() One review of studies in over 5,000 children found that milk and grain foods fortified with iron, zinc, and vitamin A decreased the occurrence of anemia by over 50% in children younger than 5 years old ( 20). In these regions, milk is often fortified with iron and other nutrients, such as zinc and B vitamins. Promotes healthy growth in childrenįortified milk helps prevent iron deficiency anemia in children, a common problem, especially in developing countries. One study found that countries with widespread use of fortified milk had populations with higher vitamin D intake and blood vitamin D levels than countries that didn’t widely use fortified milk ( 19). In addition, fortification is a useful strategy to correct other micronutrient deficiencies that may not be as serious but can still be harmful ( 15).įor instance, most people around the world get enough vitamin D to prevent rickets but not other harmful side effects of vitamin D deficiency, such as decreased immunity ( 16, 17, 18). The fortification and enrichment of flour and milk have helped almost eradicate deficiency diseases in developed countries ( 14). Fills nutrient gaps in your dietįortification (adding nutrients that a food lacks) and enrichment (reintroducing nutrients lost during processing) were first developed to prevent nutrient deficiency diseases like rickets, a weakening of bones due to vitamin D deficiency ( 3). Fortified milk in the United States is also high in vitamins A and D.Ĭompared with unfortified milk, fortified milk offers several benefits. summaryįortified and unfortified milks are highly nutritious and particularly rich in vitamin B12, calcium, and phosphorus. What’s more, nearly 30% of the calories in milk come from protein, which your body needs to build healthy muscles and create compounds that help direct bodily processes ( 12, 13). In addition, vitamin D in fortified milk boosts your body’s absorption of calcium ( 10, 11). ![]() They also promote bone health due to their high content of calcium and phosphorus, the two primary minerals that comprise bones. In the United States, milk is often fortified with vitamins A and D, though it’s not required by law.īoth fortified and unfortified milks are highly nutritious. ![]() summaryįortified milk is milk that contains added nutrients. However, milk is not typically fortified with B vitamins in the United States ( 2). Other nutrients like B vitamins must be added later, as heat can destroy them. These are the most active and absorbable forms of these nutrients ( 4, 5).Īs they’re heat resistant, these compounds can be added to milk before pasteurization and homogenization, which are heat processes that kill harmful bacteria and improve shelf life ( 2, 6, 7). ![]() To fortify milk, vitamin A palmitate and vitamin D3 are added. In terms of uses, fortified milk is utilized in the same way as unfortified varieties, such as for drinking or cooking. Still, fortified milk is much more common than unfortified milk in the United States. While some countries require fortification of milk by law, this is not the case in the United States ( 3). How or if milk is fortified depends on where you live and what nutrients may be lacking in the typical diet of your country. However, milk can be fortified with various other nutrients, including zinc, iron, and folic acid ( 2). Typically, vitamins D and A are added to milk sold in the United States ( 1). Fortified milk is cow’s milk that contains extra vitamins and minerals that are not naturally found in milk in significant amounts.
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