Concurrent micronutrient deficiencies are prevalent among Vietnamese school children. A school-based program providing food fortified with multiple micronutrients could be a cost-effective and sustainable strategy to improve health and cognitive function of school children. However, the efficacy of such an intervention may be compromised by the high prevalence of parasitic infestation. To evaluate the efficacy of school-based intervention using multi-micronutrient-fortified biscuits with or without deworming on anemia and micronutrient status in Vietnamese schoolchildren, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted among 510 primary schoolchildren, aged 6-8 y, in rural Vietnam. Albendazole (Alb) (400 mg) or placebo was given at baseline. Nonfortified or multi-micronutrient-fortified biscuits including iron (6 mg), zinc (5.6 mg), iodine (35 microg), and vitamin A (300 microg retinol equivalents) were given 5 d/wk for 4 mo. Multi-micronutrient fortification significantly improved the concentrations of hemoglobin (+1.87 g/L; 95% CI: 0.78, 2.96), plasma ferritin (+7.5 microg/L; 95% CI: 2.8, 12.6), body iron (+0.56 mg/kg body weight; 95% CI: 0.29, 0.84), plasma zinc (+0.61 micromol/L; 95% CI: 0.26, 0.95), plasma retinol (+0.041 micromol/L; 95% CI: 0.001, 0.08), and urinary iodine (+22.49 micromol/L; 95% CI: 7.68, 37.31). Fortification reduced the risk of anemia and deficiencies of zinc and iodine by >40%. Parasitic infestation did not affect fortification efficacy, whereas fortification significantly enhanced deworming efficacy, with the lowest reinfection rates in children receiving both micronutrients and Alb. Multi-micronutrient fortification of biscuits is an effective strategy to improve the micronutrient status of Vietnamese schoolchildren and enhances effectiveness of deworming.

Regular consumption of iron-fortified fish sauce significantly reduced the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in Vietnamese women during the 6-mo intervention. Fortifying fish sauce with iron by using a water-soluble, highly bioavailable compound (NaFeEDTA) is a promising strategy for combating iron deficiency anemia in Vietnam.

Background: Although physical activity is recognised to be an important determinant of health and nutritional status, few instruments have been developed to assess physical activity in developing countries. The aim of this study was to compare the validity of the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and a locally adapted version of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQA) for use in school going adolescents in rural and urban areas in Vietnam.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of combined iron-zinc supplementation on micronutrient status, growth and morbidity. Design: Randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled supplementation trial. Setting: Rural district of Que Vo, in the Red River Delta in Vietnam. Subjects: A total of 915 breast-fed infants aged 4-7 months were included and 784 completed the study. Interventions: The Fe-group received daily and for a 6-month period 10 mg of iron, the Zn-group 10 mg zinc, the Fe-Zn group 10 mg iron þ 10 mg zinc and the placebo group a placebo. Hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin (SF) and zinc (SZn), and anthropometry were measured before and at the end of the intervention. Morbidity was recorded daily. Results: Changes of Hb and SF were higher in both Fe and Fe þ Zn groups (respectively 22.6 and 20.6 g/l for Hb; 36.0 and 24.8 mg/l for SF) compared to Zn and placebo groups (Hb: 6.4 and 9.8 g/l; SF: À18.2 and À16.9 mg/l, Po0.0001). SZn increased more in Zn group (10.3 mmol/l) than in Fe þ Zn group (8.0 mmol/l, P ¼ 0.03) and more in these groups compared to Fe and placebo groups (1.6 and 1.2 mmol/l, Po0.0001). Weight gain was higher in the Zn group. No significant effects of supplementations on growth in length or morbidity. Conclusions: Combined iron-zinc supplementation had a positive effect on iron and zinc status in infants. However, the positive effect of zinc alone on SZn and weight would indicate a negative interaction of iron when added to zinc supplements. Sponsorship: UNICEF New York.

OH eating added a number of desirable foods and nutrients but was also associated with higher consumption of energy from fat and sugar products. Independent of household wealth and locality, pocket money and sex are important determinants of OH eating.