title: Dual fortification of salt with iron and iodine in women and children in rural Ghana.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the efficacy of double-fortified salt (DFS) on the anaemia and iodine deficiency (ID) status of women and their children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double-blind randomised controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sekyere West District of Ghana.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this eight-month trial, mildly anaemic or non-anaemic, non-pregnant, non-lactating women were randomised into three groups receiving: DFS plus weekly placebo (n = 61); iodised salt plus weekly 70 mg iron supplement (n = 65); or iodised salt (IS) plus weekly placebo (control group, n = 58). Correspondingly, their mildly anaemic and non-anaemic children aged 1-5 years were randomised into two groups receiving either the DFS (n = 23) or IS alone (control group, n = 59).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of the intervention, prevalence of anaemia in women remained unchanged in the DFS or IS plus weekly iron supplement group, but significantly increased by 19.5% in the control group (P = 0.039). In children, prevalence of anaemia in the DFS group significantly decreased by 21.7% (P = 0.025) while no change was observed in the control group. ID decreased significantly in all groups of women (P < 0.001) and children (P < 0.05), with no difference among groups of women and children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While the use of DFS prevented anaemia in women, it had a significant role in both the prevention and treatment of anaemia in children. Both the DFS and IS significantly reduced ID in women and children to a similar degree.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Ghana,
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Asibey-Berko
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Zlotkin
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nti-Nimako
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ahunu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kyei-Faried
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Tondeur
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mannar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006043:Goiter, Endemic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000172:deficiency; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; C034024:iodized salt; D007455:Iodine; D007501:Iron