A micronutrient-fortified seasoning powder reduces morbidity and improves short-term cognitive function, but has no effect on anthropometric measures in primary school children in northeast Thailand: a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Reductions in iodine and zinc deficiencies and improvements in hemoglobin were achieved from a micronutrient-fortified seasoning powder consumed in school lunches by children in northeast Thailand.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to determine whether fortification with 4 micronutrients in a school lunch results in changes in children's growth, morbidity, and cognitive function compared with no fortification.


METHODS
In a randomized controlled trial of 569 children aged 5.5-13.4 y from 10 schools, we compared the efficacy of a seasoning powder fortified with or without 5 mg Fe, 5 mg Zn, 50 mug I, and 270 mug vitamin A per serving consumed with a school lunch 5 d/wk. Here we report on results of the secondary functional outcomes.


RESULTS
The groups were comparable concerning compliance and loss to follow-up. The intervention had no statistically significant effect on anthropometric measures over 31 wk, but reduced the incidence of respiratory-related illnesses [rate ratio (RR): 0.83; 95% CI: 0.73, 0.94], symptoms of runny nose (RR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.70, 0.92), cough (RR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.66, 0.96), and diarrhea (RR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.16, 0.90). For the visual recall test, those in the fortified group recalled 0.5 more items (95% CI: 0.1, 0.9) than did the controls. There were no statistically significant differences between groups in the results of the digits forward and backward tests or in school grades at the conclusion of the 2 semesters.


CONCLUSIONS
The beneficial effects on morbidity and visual recall over a short period, in addition to some biochemical improvements, highlight the potential of this micronutrient-fortified seasoning powder supplied in a school lunch. This trial was registered at clinical trials.gov as ACTRN12605000341628.
Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Salaya, Thailand.
Mari Skar
MS
Manger
Joanne E
JE
McKenzie
Pattanee
P
Winichagoon
Andrew
A
Gray
Visith
V
Chavasit
Tippawan
T
Pongcharoen
Sueppong
S
Gowachirapant
Bruce
B
Ryan
Emorn
E
Wasantwisut
Rosalind S
RS
Gibson
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009679:Nuclear Family; D011208:Powders; D013785:Thailand; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
D018977:Micronutrients; D011208:Powders; D014801:Vitamin A; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc