1. Accuracy and Objectivity: Present research findings accurately and provide an objective assessment of their significance.
2. Authorship Criteria: Maintain writing accuracy by including only those eligible for authorship and explicitly detailing their contributions.
3. Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Disclose any information at the time of submission that could be perceived as a potential conflict of interest.
4. Data Presentation: Present data and methodologies accurately. Sufficiently detail data and research methods to enable other researchers to replicate the study. Unless there are compelling reasons (e.g., patient confidentiality), raw data should be made publicly available.
5. Submission to Multiple Journals: Simultaneous submission of articles to multiple journals is not permitted.
6. Originality and Publication History: Original research findings must be unique and not previously published. Any translations must adhere to our translation policy.
7. Copyright Permissions: Obtain permission from copyright owners to publish any previously published content, including quotations, images, or tables.
8. Error Communication: Promptly communicate any errors or inaccuracies discovered after publication.

Adherence to these ethical guidelines ensures the integrity and quality of published research, fostering a scholarly environment based on transparency and accountability.

Authorship Guidelines:

Media Gizi Mikro Indonesia adheres to the guidelines set forth by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). According to ICMJE, to qualify as an author for a publication, an individual must meet four criteria:

• Significant contribution to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; AND
• Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; AND
• Final approval of the version to be published; AND
• Taking responsibility for the entirety of the work, ensuring that any questions about the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

ICMJE provides more specific information on authorship. The minimum requirements acknowledged for authorship involve making substantial contributions to the research and taking responsibility for the work conducted (COPE Discussion Document: Authorship). Author contributions may be delineated upon submission, optionally utilizing the CRediT taxonomy. Authors submitting must provide an ORCID, and we encourage all authors to do so. Any changes to the author list made during the editorial process or after publication must be agreed upon by all authors, including those removed. With their consent, anyone contributing to the research or manuscript preparation but not meeting authorship criteria should be acknowledged. Submissions from anyone other than listed authors will be rejected. We reserve the right to request proof of authorship, and modifications to authorship after acceptance will be made at the discretion of Media Gizi Mikro Indonesia.

Regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technology in manuscript preparation, Media Gizi Mikro Indonesia aligns with the position statement of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). ChatGPT and other large language models (LLMs) do not meet authorship criteria and are not allowed to be listed as manuscript authors. Authors bear full responsibility for the originality, validity, and integrity of their manuscript content, ensuring compliance with all Media Gizi Mikro Indonesia publication ethics policies. Media Gizi Mikro Indonesia reserves the right to request additional information, and editorial decisions will be made in accordance with the Media Gizi Mikro Indonesia Editorial Process and our Terms and Conditions.

Authorship Dispute Resolution Policy:

In resolving authorship disputes that may arise during or after publication, Media Gizi Mikro Indonesia adheres to the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). COPE guidelines clearly state that journals are not in a position to arbitrate disputes regarding authorship contributions (https://publicationethics.org/resources/discussion-documents/authorship). It is emphasized that disputed authorship typically does not warrant retraction unless "there is no reason to doubt the validity of the findings" (https://publicationethics.org/retraction-guidelines).

If disputes cannot be resolved among the involved parties, the journal will refer the matter to the relevant institution or governing body for a final decision. Media Gizi Mikro Indonesia reserves the right to modify the author list based on recommendations from the institution or governing body.

This policy is in accordance with COPE guidelines, ensuring a fair and transparent process for resolving authorship-related conflicts.

Plagiarism, Fabrication, and Manipulation Policy:

Media Gizi Mikro Indonesia unequivocally prohibits plagiarism. Plagiarism is defined as the act of copying text, ideas, images, or data from other sources, including one's own publications, without proper attribution to the original source. Image files must not be manipulated or altered in any way that could lead to misinterpretation of information provided by the original image. Irregular manipulation includes 1) adding, enhancing, moving, or deleting features from the original image, 2) grouping images that should be presented separately (e.g., from different sections of the same gel or different gels), and 3) modifying contrast, brightness, or color balance to obscure, eliminate, or enhance certain information.

Presented information must be original and not selectively, manipulated, enhanced, or fabricated. This includes 1) excluding data points to increase the significance of conclusions, 2) falsifying data, 3) selecting results that support specific conclusions over contradictory data, and 4) deliberately selecting tools or methods of analysis to support specific conclusions (including p-hacking). We strongly encourage pre-registration of methods and analysis.

Adherence to these principles ensures the integrity of the research published in Media Gizi Mikro Indonesia, promoting transparency, credibility, and ethical conduct in scientific inquiry.

Human Research Policy:

When reporting research involving human subjects, human materials, human tissues, or human data, authors must declare that the investigation was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki of 1975 (https://www.wma.net/what-we-do/medical-ethics/declaration-of-helsinki/), as revised in 2013. As outlined in point 23 of this declaration, prior approval from the local institutional review board (IRB) or an appropriate ethics committee must be obtained before conducting the research to ensure compliance with national and international guidelines.

If ethical approval is not required, authors should provide an exemption from the ethics committee or be encouraged to cite local or national laws indicating that ethical approval is not necessary for this type of research. If an exemption has been granted, the name of the ethics committee providing it should be stated in the 'Institutional Review Board Statement' section, along with a detailed explanation of why ethical approval was not required.

Participating patients must provide written consent for publication. Individual participant data should be described in detail, but personally identifiable information should be avoided unless material that can be identified is relevant to the research (e.g., participant facial photos displaying specific symptoms). Initials or other personal identifiers of other patients should not be included in any images. Before submitting a manuscript to Media Gizi Mikro Indonesia, authors must obtain signed publication consent from patients (or their relatives/guardians) for case details, personal information, and/or patient images. Patient information should be anonymized as much as possible; for example, avoid mentioning age, ethnicity, or specific occupation if it is irrelevant to the conclusions.

This policy ensures that research involving human subjects complies with ethical standards, respecting participant rights and privacy throughout the publication process in Media Gizi Mikro Indonesia.

Animal Research Policy:

Authors are required to ensure that their research aligns with the widely recognized '3R' principles [1]: the Replacement of animals with alternative methods whenever possible, Reduction in the number of animals used, and Refinement of conditions and experimental procedures to minimize harm to animals. To guide their practices, authors should refer to the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals Used in Scientific Procedures [2], the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [3], or the European Federation for Laboratory Animal Science [4].

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, clinical studies involving animals and interventions beyond routine care necessitate oversight by an ethics committee. In cases involving client-owned animals, authors must obtain and certify client consent within the research manuscript. Adherence to these guidelines ensures responsible and humane treatment of animals in scientific investigations, in line with Media Gizi Mikro Indonesia's commitment to ethical research practices.

Cell Line Research Policy:

The methods section for the submission of cell line research reports must include information on the source of any cell lines used. For established cell lines, their origin must be specified, with references provided to either published publications or commercial sources. If a de novo cell line, not previously published, is utilized—whether provided by another laboratory or created anew—details of institutional review board approval or ethical committee consent must be included. Additionally, written confirmation of consent is required if the cell line originates from human sources. The editor reserves the right to reject any material that does not comply with these stipulations. This policy ensures transparency and ethical oversight in cell line research submissions to uphold the standards set by Media Gizi Mikro Indonesia.

Plant-Related Research Policy:

Experimental plant research, whether involving cultivated or wild plants, including the collection of plant materials, should adhere to institutional, national, or international norms. We recommend that authors comply with the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora when conducting plant-related studies. This ensures that plant research aligns with ethical and conservation principles, promoting responsible and sustainable practices. By following these guidelines, authors contribute to the preservation of biodiversity and the ethical conduct of plant-related research within the framework of Media Gizi Mikro Indonesia.

Clinical Trial Registration:

As a publication prerequisite, Media Gizi Mikro Indonesia adheres to the guidelines of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), which mandates and recommends that clinical trials be registered in a public trials registry at or before the time of first patient enrollment. Registration is not required for purely observational research. Clinical trials are studies involving the randomization of participants and the allocation of groups in the context of the evaluated intervention, extending beyond research conducted in hospitals or the use of medications.

Authors are strongly encouraged to preregister clinical trials in international clinical trial registries and include the registration link in the Methods section. Appropriate databases include ClinicalTrials.gov, the EU Clinical Trials Register, and those listed on the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. This practice enhances transparency, accountability, and the credibility of clinical trial research, aligning with ethical standards upheld by Media Gizi Mikro Indonesia.

Conflict of Interest Policy:

Authors must avoid agreements with research sponsors, whether for-profit or non-profit, that impede authors' access to all research data or hinder their ability to independently analyze, interpret data, and prepare and publish manuscripts when and where they choose, as advised by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors.

Authors are required to identify and declare any circumstances or personal interests that could be perceived as inappropriate influence on the portrayal or interpretation of reported research findings. Financial interests (such as memberships, employment, consultancy, stock ownership/equity, honoraria, grants or other funding, paid expert testimony, and patent licensing arrangements) and non-financial interests (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, and personal beliefs) are examples of potential conflict of interest. This policy ensures transparency and integrity in research reporting, upholding the credibility and impartiality of publications in Media Gizi Mikro Indonesia.