Resumen de The potential of Indonesian indigenous functional foods as a sustainable strategy for stunting alleviation: a systematic review of quasi experimental research

Ahdiyatul Fauza, Delita Septía Rosdiana, Habibah Abidin, Putri Novitasari, Anisa Nur Wulan, Safira Tri Damayanti, Nanda Fitria Salsabila

• Background: Stunting remains a serious chronic nutritional problem, especially in Indonesia, despite a decrease in its prevalence from 27.7% (2021) to 19.8% (2024). Protein deficiency is the primary factor causing stunting due to its crucial role in regulating growth hormones and forming body tissues. This study aimed to identify the potential of protein-based indigenous functional foods as a sustainable strategy for stunting alleviation.

  Methods: The method used was a systematic review based on the PRISMA guidelines with a narrative synthesis approach. Article searches were conducted via PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and Garuda using the keywords “stunting intervention,” “local functional food,” and “protein-based food” in publications from 2015 to 2025. Out of 496 articles, 11 articles met the inclusion criteria.

  Results: These findings conclude that using indigenous protein-rich functional foods is an effective and sustainable strategy for reducing the prevalence of stunting. Future intervention development needs to assess the sustainability aspects of local foods, micronutrient fortification, and integration into national child nutrition policies.

  Conclusions: These findings conclude that using indigenous protein-rich functional foods is an effective and sustainable strategy for reducing the prevalence of stunting. Future intervention development needs to assess the sustainability aspects of local foods, micronutrient fortification, and integration into national child nutrition policies.