title: Evaluation of the impact of a food program on the micronutrient nutritional status of Argentinean lactating mothers.
abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of a food aid program (Plan Más Vida, PMV) on the micronutrient nutritional condition of lactating mothers 1 year after its implementation. The food program provided supplementary diets (wheat- and maize-fortified flour, rice or sugar, and fortified soup) to low-income families from the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. A prospective, non-experimental study was carried out to evaluate the micronutrient nutritional status of lactating mothers (n = 178 at baseline and n = 151 after 1 year). Biochemical tests (hemoglobin, ferritin, zinc, vitamin A, and folic acid), anthropometric assessments (weight and height) and dietary surveys (24-h recall) were performed. We found no significant changes in anthropometric values 1 year after the intervention. The risk for vitamin A (retinol 20-30 μg/dl) and folate deficiency significantly decreased 1 year after PMV implementation (56.3 vs. 29.9 and 50.3 vs. 3.4 %, respectively; p < 0.001). Anemia was seen in 25.8 % of lactating mothers at baseline, without statistically significant differences 1 year after (p = 0.439). The nutritional data obtained after assessing the early impact of PMV actions may be useful to provincial health authorities to perform periodic evaluations in the future.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Desarrollo e Investigaciones Pediátricas Prof. D. Fernando E. Viteri (IDIP), Hospital de Niños de La Plata, (MS/CIC-PBA), 63 No. 1069, 1900, La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varea
authors.forename: Agustina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malpeli
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Disalvo
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Apezteguía
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Falivene
authors.forename: Guillermina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pereyras
authors.forename: Estéban
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carmuega
authors.forename: Graciela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Etchegoyen
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vojkovic
authors.forename: Horacio F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: González
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D063105:Food Assistance; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients