Multiple Micronutrient-Fortified Rice Affects Physical Performance and Plasma Vitamin B-12 and Homocysteine Concentrations of Indian School Children

Fortification of rice: technologies and nutrients

“…Various efficacy trials have recently been conducted for hot‐extruded kernels in India and for cold‐extruded rice grains in Latin America and Asia . Significant improvement could be demonstrated for zinc and the added vitamins, for example B1, B12, or A . Most of the studies investigating the effect of iron fortification used high amounts of iron (above 10 mg/100 g), but even intervention levels of 3 mg/100 g were able to decrease the anemia frequency, for example, in the Philippines .…”

Micronutrient supply and health outcomes in children

“…Two different trials measuring the growth of 6-10-year-old children for 1 year [17] or 6 months [18] were examined ( Table 2). Two different trials measuring the growth of 6-10-year-old children for 1 year [17] or 6 months [18] were examined ( Table 2).…”

“…Furthermore, multiple micronutrient provision was found to be more beneficial than no/single/double micronutrient in improving motor development in young children [26]. For cognition, one fortification study found no effects on cognition in apparently healthy children [18], whereas a supplementation study found that verbal and nonverbal memory improved after supplementation of iron and zinc in deficient children [27]. Out of those, three focused on cognitive outcomes, two on physical outcomes, and one examined both.…”

“…The two intervention trials focusing on physical performance outcomes (Table 3), typically measuring physical endurance, showed a positive effect [18,30]. These interventions were performed in healthy school children of both sexes, aged between 6 and 15 years, but differed in the fortified food vehicle (rice or beverage powder).…”

Organoleptic qualities and acceptability of fortified rice in two Southeast Asian countries

“…While many micronutrients can be added simultaneously to rice, including iron, vitamin A, zinc, and the B vitamins, there is some concern about interactions between micronutrients, such as between iron and vitamin A, with the addition of iron leading to decreased stability of vitamin A . The efficacy of rice fortified with micronutrients to improve micronutrient status is not fully determined at the moment, with iron status being improved after consumption of iron‐fortified rice in some, but not all, studies. The status of zinc and B vitamins was improved in some studies using multiple micronutrient–fortified rice …”