title: Evaluation of the effect of vitamin A-fortified margarine on the vitamin A status of preschool Filipino children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed the effects of consuming a highly hydrogenated, vitamin A (VA)-fortified margarine not requiring refrigeration on VA status of preschool children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A double-masked randomized community trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six rural villages in Cavite, Southern Luzon, the Philippines.
  
  
  METHODS
  296 and 285 children 3-6 y of age in the VA-fortified (experimental) and non-fortified (control) margarine groups, respectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each week for 6 months households were given 250 g of VA-fortified margarine [providing 28.8 micrograms retinol equivalents (RE) per g] or non-fortified (0 microgram RE) margarine of identical appearance for each enrolled child. Children's vitamin A status [serum retinol, xerophthalmia, and conjunctival impression cytology (CIC) status] and dietary intake were assessed at baseline and follow-up; margarine intake was monitored throughout the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Daily margarine intake per child averaged 27 g in the experimental group (providing 776 micrograms RE) and 24 g (0 microgram RE) in the control group. After 6 months, mean serum retinol increased from 26.4 to 28.8 micrograms/dl in the experimental group but decreased from 26.6 to 25.1 micrograms/dl in controls (P < 0.001 at 6 months); the multiple-adjusted increment over controls was 2.4 micrograms/dl (P < 0.01). More importantly, the prevalence of low serum retinol (< 20 micrograms/dl) decreased from 25.7 to 10.1% in the experimental group but remained unchanged in controls (26.7 to 27.7%) (P < 0.01 at 6 months). At follow-up no experimental children had developed xerophthalmia but 1.4 and 1.8% of controls developed nightblindness and Bitot's spots, respectively. There were no differences in CIC between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consumption of VA-fortified margarine significantly improved VA status of preschool Filipino children.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Center of the Philippines, Metro Manila, Philippines.
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Solon
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Solon
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mehansho
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sarol
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perfecto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nano
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Isleta
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wasantwisut
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sommer
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008383:Margarine; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010679:Philippines; D011897:Random Allocation; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A; D008383:Margarine