Objective: To assess the effects of iron and deworming on linear growth performance of preschoolers. Design: Three-month randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial. The children were allocated to four treatments: iron (60 mg elemental ironaday) albendazole (200 mgaday for 3 consecutive days, repeated 1 month later), iron albendazole-placebo, albendazole iron-placebo or placebos. The supplementation was supervised. Subjects: A group of 177 children aged 3 ± 5 y was selected from low-income households in a rural area in southern Be Ânin. A complete data set was analysed for 140 subjects. Many children were stunted (58% had heightfor-age Z-score`72), none were wasted (2% had weight-for-height Z-score`72) and 76% were anemic (Hb`110 gal). Main outcome measures: Anthropometric parameters, hemoglobin and eggs per gram feces. Results: No signi®cant difference in changes in anthropometric parameters was observed between study groups, and also not in a sub-sample of stunted and anemic subjects. Changes in hemoglobin were highest in the irontreated subjects at the end of the 3-month intervention period (P 0.032). The difference between the iron and the placebo groups remained signi®cant even 7 months later (P 0.022). The difference was 5 gal in both periods. Ascaris lumbricoides and hookworm infections decreased signi®cantly in albendazole-treated subjects (P`0.05). Conclusions: In addition to recurrent parasitic infection burden, the children may have multiple micronutrient de®ciencies. Therefore, it may be interesting to study appetite and food intake of young toddlers in relation to health and linear growth performance in poor environments.

Background: Inadequate energy and nutrient intakes are a major nutritional problem in developing countries. A recent study in Beninese school-aged children in different seasons revealed a high prevalence of stunting and poor iron status that might be related to the food pattern. Objective: To analyse the food pattern and resulting energy and nutrient intakes of rural Beninese school-aged children in relation to season and school attendance. Subjects and methods: The study was performed in northern Benin in eighty randomly selected children aged 6-8 years. Dietary intake was assessed using observed weighed records. Food, energy and nutrient intakes were measured in post-and pre-harvest seasons. Complete food consumption data sets were available for seventy-five children. Results: Food pattern showed seasonal variations. Cereals, roots and tubers were the main staple foods. Contributions of animal products to the diet were very small. The food pattern was not different for either boys v. girls or for children attending v. not attending school. Median daily energy intakes were 5?0 and 5?3 MJ in the post-and pre-harvest season, respectively. Only fat and vitamin C showed seasonal differences (P , 0?05). Energy and nutrient intakes were different for boys and girls but, unexpectedly, not for children attending v. not attending school. Conclusions: Seasonal variations in food pattern did not result in seasonality in energy and nutrient intakes. Because the children's diet was low in animal products, protein, fat and vitamin C and high in fibre, the absorption of fat, fatsoluble vitamins, carotenoids, Fe and Zn might be low. Fe and Zn bioavailability from such a diet needs further investigation.

An improvement in iodine status, rather than iodine status itself, determined mental performance in this population, which was initially iodine deficient. These findings suggest a "catch-up" effect in terms of mental performance.

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