Effects of Vitamin A, Vitamin A plus Iron and Multiple Micronutrient-Fortified Seasoning Powder on Preschool Children in a Suburb of Chongqing, China

Abstract

Summary Preschool children in developing countries are likely to have multiple, concurrent micronutrient deficiencies. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of different combinations of nutritional fortified diet to improve the blood levels of iron, vitamin A and other essential micronutrients in the preschool population of Banan District of Chongqing, China. From December 2005 to June 2006, a total of 226 2-6 y old preschool children were recruited from three nurseries in the area, and they were randomly assigned to three different fortified diet groups for 6 mo. Group I was fortified with vitamin A; groups II and III were fortified with vitamin A plus iron and vitamin A plus iron, thiamine, riboflavin, folic acid, niacinamide, zinc and calcium, respectively. Subjects' weight and height were measured for assessing the children's growth and development. Blood samples were taken at the beginning and the end of the 6-mo study period for measuring serum levels of micronutrients. Group III with the multiple micronutrient fortified diet was the most effective to improve the serum level of retinol from L and 125.1 (119.8, 131.6) g/L over the 6 mo of intervention period, but there were no difference among the three groups ( p Ͼ 0.05). Nevertheless, unexpected results were obtained when comparing the effects on growth status among the different supplement groups. Our study has demonstrated that a multiple micronutrient fortified diet for 6 mo is more effective to improve the levels of hemoglobin, serum retinol, and RBP as well as to facilitate the mobilization of iron storage in preschool children.

No Enhancing Effect of Vitamin A Administration on Iron Absorption or Body Total Iron Content in Preschool Children from Chengdu, China

“…One of our previous interventional trials (12) indicated that compared with vitamin A plus iron and multiple micronutrient supplementations, sole vitamin A intervention also has a significant effect on iron reserve and mobilization, but has no effect on TFR-F index or total body iron content, which prompted the possibility of little effect of vitamin A on iron absorption in the small intestine. Zimmermann et al (21) also suggested that although vitamin A treatment of children decreased the serum transferrin receptor and serum ferritin level (p,0.001), the TFR-F index and body total iron content remained unchanged at 5 and 10 mo after intervention.…”

“…Our subsequent supplementation trial (12) found that compared with vitamin A plus iron and multiple micronutrient supplementations, sole vitamin A intervention has a significant effect on iron storage and mobilization, but no effect on the TFR-F index or total body iron content, which prompted the possibility of little effect of vitamin A on iron absorption in the small intestine.…”

Índices antropométricos e retinolemia em crianças menores de cinco anos do e Estado da Paraíba

“…Entretanto, o efeito da suplementação com vitamina A, anteriormente relatado, é questionável devido aos resultados de experimentos mais recentes que desvendam impacto positivo [25][26][27] . Questionam-se, assim, os fatores aos quais essas diferenças podem ser atribuídas.…”

Knowledge of Healthcare Professionals on the Use of Micronutrient and the Prevention of Micronutrient Malnutrition in Ibadan Nigeria

“…Studies reveal that once this state develops, it may be reversed or ameliorated by increased supply of antioxidant micronutrients and this has yielded encouraging epidemiological benefits in the prevention of cancer in a highly susceptible population in China (Holick, 2004;Chen et al, 2008;Al-Naggar and Chen, 2011). It is therefore crucial and cannot be emphasized that the prescribing fraternity should be well-informed about nutrition and its role in maintaining health.…”

“…(Tolonen, 1990;Holick, 2004). Also, an inappropriate diet has been estimated to contribute approximately 35% of all cancer cases in humans (a study carried out in a region in China) (Chen et al, 2008).…”