<![CDATA[Masalah gizi buruk pada anak masih menjadi tantangan kesehatan masyarakat, terutama pada wilayah dengan beban underweight, wasting, dan stunting yang tinggi seperti Nusa Tenggara Timur. Protein hewani dipandang sebagai komponen strategis karena memiliki asam amino esensial lengkap, bioavailabilitas tinggi, serta kandungan zat gizi mikro penting seperti zat besi, seng, kalsium, vitamin B12, dan asam lemak omega-3. Artikel ini bertujuan menelaah peran optimalisasi asupan protein hewani dalam penanggulangan gizi buruk pada anak. Kajian dilakukan menggunakan desain systematic literature review dengan mengacu pada PRISMA 2020. Pencarian literatur dilakukan melalui PubMed, Scopus, dan Google Scholar pada artikel berbahasa Indonesia atau Inggris yang terbit tahun 2021–2026. Dari 1.562 artikel yang teridentifikasi, 306 artikel disaring berdasarkan judul dan abstrak, 32 artikel dinilai kelayakannya secara teks lengkap, dan 11 artikel memenuhi kriteria inklusi. Hasil telaah menunjukkan bahwa konsumsi pangan hewani, terutama susu, telur, ikan, daging, dan pangan lokal berbasis hewani, berhubungan dengan perbaikan indikator antropometri anak. Beberapa intervensi menunjukkan peningkatan WAZ, WLZ, BMI, LAZ, serta penurunan wasting, dengan bukti signifikan pada edukasi gizi, formulasi pangan berbasis putih telur, dan pangan komplementer berbasis protein hewani. Namun, implementasi masih terhambat oleh rendahnya daya beli, akses pangan, budaya makan, kualitas MP-ASI, dan kondisi geografis. Optimalisasi protein hewani perlu dilakukan secara kontekstual melalui edukasi pengasuh, pemanfaatan pangan lokal, penguatan rantai pasok, dan integrasi layanan kesehatan. Kata kunci: anak; gizi buruk; protein hewani; stunting; tinjauan literatur sistematis. Abstract Child malnutrition remains a major public health challenge, particularly in areas with a high burden of underweight, wasting, and stunting, such as East Nusa Tenggara. Animal protein is considered a strategic nutritional component because it provides complete essential amino acids, high bioavailability, and important micronutrients, including iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin B12, and omega-3 fatty acids. This article aims to review the role of optimizing animal protein intake as a strategy for addressing child malnutrition. This study used a systematic literature review design guided by the PRISMA 2020 framework. Literature searches were conducted through PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for articles published in Indonesian or English between 2021 and 2026. Of 1,562 identified articles, 306 were screened by title and abstract, 32 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility, and 11 studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings indicate that consumption of animal-source foods, particularly milk, eggs, fish, meat, and local animal-based foods, is associated with improvements in children’s anthropometric indicators. Several interventions reported improvements in WAZ, WLZ, BMI, and LAZ, as well as reductions in wasting, particularly through nutrition education, egg-white-based food formulations, and animal-protein-based complementary foods. However, implementation remains constrained by low purchasing power, limited food access, cultural food practices, poor complementary feeding quality, and geographical barriers. Optimizing animal protein intake should therefore be implemented contextually through caregiver education, local food utilization, strengthened food supply chains, and integration with health services. Keywords: animal-source foods; child malnutrition; children; stunting; systematic literature review.]]>
Copyrights © 2026
