Efficacy of iron-fortified Ultra Rice in improving the iron status of women in Mexico.
BACKGROUND
Universal fortification of staple foods with iron has been widely promoted as a cost-effective strategy to reduce iron deficiency in developing-country populations. Nonetheless, relatively few efficacy trials have been reported to date to demonstrate impact on iron status. The Ultra Rice technology provides a means of delivering fortificant iron via rice.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to test the efficacy of rice fortified with microencapsulated, micronized iron pyrophosphate to improve the iron status of women in Mexico in a randomized, controlled intervention trial.


METHODS
Nonpregnant, nonlactating women 18 to 49 years of age were recruited from six factories. The women received a daily portion of cooked rice 5 days per week for a period of 6 months, before and after which iron status indicators were determined in venous blood samples.


RESULTS
The average intake of iron from the fortificant was 13 mg/day. Mean plasma ferritin concentration and estimated body iron stores were significantly higher, and transferrin receptors were lower, in the iron-fortified rice group following the intervention. Mean hemoglobin concentration also increased in the treatment group, but the increase was significant only when the analysis was restricted to those with baseline hemoglobin < 12.8 g/dL. The absolute reduction in anemia and iron deficiency was 10.3 and 15.1 percentage points, respectively. Total iron intake from fortificant was a significant covariate of change in body iron stores. The overall prevalence of anemia was reduced by 80%.


CONCLUSIONS
Fortification of rice with iron using this technology is an efficacious strategy for preventing iron deficiency.
Hotz
Christine
C
Centro de Investigación en Nutrición y Salud, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. c.hotz@cgiar.org
Porcayo
Maribel
M
Onofre
Germán
G
García-Guerra
Armando
A
Elliott
Terry
T
Jankowski
Shirley
S
Greiner
Ted
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011756:Diphosphates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012275:Oryza; D015995:Prevalence; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D011756:Diphosphates; D006454:Hemoglobins; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron; C049051:ferric pyrophosphate