Impact of a multiple-micronutrient fortified salt on the nutritional status and memory of schoolchildren.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to test the efficacy of a multiple micronutrient-fortified cooking salt.


METHODS
A randomized controlled trial with a pre- and post-test design was used to study children 5 to 18 years of age, with an experimental (n=213) and control group (n=189). The children were sampled from 3 residential schools and were studied for 9 months. The experimental group received a multiple micronutrient-fortified salt containing vitamins A, B(1), B(2), B(6), B(12), as well as folic acid, niacin, iron, iodine, and zinc. The control group received iodized salt. Biochemical measurements [hemoglobin, serum ferritin (SF), serum transferrin receptor (sTfR), C-reactive protein (CRP), alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP), serum retinol, serum vitamin B(12), serum folic acid, serum zinc, and urinary iodine (UI)] were measured at baseline and post-intervention. Hemoglobin was measured in all the children three times during the study period, while the remaining biochemical measurements were performed in a subsample of children. Children between 11 and 18 years of age were given cognitive tests to assess memory and attention.


RESULTS
There was a significant improvement (p<0.05) in all the biochemical measurements and memory tests in the experimental group when compared with the control group. Post-intervention in the experimental group, the increase in hemoglobin was 0.67 g/dL (p<0.05). Iron status and body iron stores increased significantly (p<0.05) in the experimental group compared to the control group, while serum zinc increased by 50 mug/dL (p<0.05), and the prevalence of retinol deficiency decreased from 57.1 % at baseline to 16 % post-intervention (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The multiple micronutrients from the multiple micronutrient-fortified cooking salt were absorbed in the children and helped in combating micronutrient deficiencies.
Vinodkumar
Malavika
M
Sundar Serendipity Foundation, Chennai, India. vinodkumar_m_k@hotmail.com
Erhardt
Juergen G
JG
Rajagopalan
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000652:urine; D016015:Logistic Models; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000172:deficiency; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000378:metabolism; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood
D006454:Hemoglobins; D018977:Micronutrients; D009961:Orosomucoid; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D014801:Vitamin A; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005293:Ferritins; D005492:Folic Acid; D007455:Iodine; D015032:Zinc; D014805:Vitamin B 12