Effect of fortification with multiple micronutrients and n-3 fatty acids on growth and cognitive performance in Indian schoolchildren: the CHAMPION (Children's Health and Mental Performance Influenced by Optimal Nutrition) Study.
BACKGROUND
Fortification with multiple micronutrients has been shown to improve growth and cognitive performance among children in developing countries, but it is unknown whether higher concentrations are more effective than lower concentrations.


OBJECTIVE
We compared the effect of 2 different concentrations of a combination of micronutrients and n-3 (omega-3) fatty acids on indicators of growth and cognitive performance in low-income, marginally nourished schoolchildren in Bangalore, India.


METHODS
In a 2-by-2 factorial, double-blind, randomized controlled trial, 598 children aged 6-10 y were individually allocated to 1 of 4 intervention groups to receive foods fortified with either 100% or 15% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance of micronutrients in combination with either 900 mg alpha-linolenic acid plus 100 mg docosahexaenoic acid or 140 mg alpha-linolenic acid for 12 mo. Anthropometric and biochemical assessments were performed at baseline and 12 mo. Cognitive performance was measured at baseline and at 6 and 12 mo.


RESULTS
The high micronutrient treatment significantly improved linear growth at 12 mo (0.19 cm; 0.01, 0.36) and short-term memory at 6 mo (0.11 SD; 0.01, 0.20) and was less beneficial on fluid reasoning at 6 (-0.10 SD; -0.17, -0.03) and 12 (-0.12 SD; -0.20, -0.04) mo than was the low micronutrient treatment, whereas no differences were observed on weight, retrieval ability, cognitive speediness, and overall cognitive performance. No significant differences were found between the n-3 treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
The high micronutrient treatment was more beneficial for linear growth than was the low micronutrient treatment. However, with some small differential effects, higher micronutrient concentrations were as effective as lower concentrations on cognitive performance. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00467909.
Muthayya
Sumithra
S
Division of Nutrition, St John's Research Institute, St John's National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India. sumithra@sjri.res.in
Eilander
Ans
A
Transler
Catherine
C
Thomas
Tinku
T
van der Knaap
Henk C M
HC
Srinivasan
Krishnamachari
K
van Klinken
B Jan Willem
BJ
Osendarp
Saskia J M
SJ
Kurpad
Anura V
AV
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D015415:Biomarkers; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D018977:Micronutrients