title: Inclusion of Small Indigenous Fish Improves Nutritional Quality During the First 1000 Days.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Within food-based approaches to improve nutrition during the first 1000 days of life, improved formulations of food products and the use of animal source foods, such as fish, are 2 widely cited strategies; however, there are few examples where the 2 strategies are combined. Furthermore, although small indigenous fish are highly nutritious and available to the poor in many regions of the world, their importance is often overlooked.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To document the development of 2 nutritious fish-based food products in Bangladesh: a chutney for pregnant and lactating women (PLW) and a complementary food (CF) for infants and young children (6-23 months), including potential contributions to recommended or desirable nutrient intakes in the first 1000 days, processing methods, and nutrient composition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Local nutrient-rich ingredients and simple processing methods based on traditional knowledge (for the chutney), and a literature review (for the CF), were selected and trial batches produced. Products were analyzed for nutrient composition using standard analytical procedures and results compared with recommended or desirable nutrient intakes for women and children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both products could contribute significantly to micronutrient intakes of PLW (24% of iron and 35% of calcium recommended intakes) and macro- and micronutrient intake of infants and young children (≥ 65% of vitamin A, ≥ 61% of zinc, and 41% of iron desirable intakes) when consumed in the proposed serving size.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inclusion of small indigenous fish as an underutilized animal source food in combination with other local nutrient-rich ingredients in food products represents a promising food-based strategy to improve nutrition, with many additional potential benefits for communities involved in production, and therefore warrants further investigation.
authors: School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia WorldFish, Bangladesh & South Asia Office, Dhaka, Bangladesh jessica.bogard@live.com.
authors: Jessica R
authors: JR
authors: Bogard
authors: WorldFish, Bangladesh & South Asia Office, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors: Anne-Louise
authors: AL
authors: Hother
authors: WorldFish, Bangladesh & South Asia Office, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors: Manika
authors: M
authors: Saha
authors: Mark Foods, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors: Sanjoy
authors: S
authors: Bose
authors: Mark Foods, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors: Humayun
authors: H
authors: Kabir
authors: School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors: Geoffrey C
authors: GC
authors: Marks
authors: WorldFish, Bangladesh & South Asia Office, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors: Shakuntala Haraksingh
authors: SH
authors: Thilsted
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture; D001459:Bangladesh; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007774:Lactation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009753:Nutritive Value; D011247:Pregnancy; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: 1000 days; animal source food; complementary food; fish-based food products; infants and young children; local nutrient-rich ingredients; pregnant and lactating women; small indigenous fish species