title: Impact of micronutrient fortification of yoghurt on micronutrient status markers and growth - a randomized double blind controlled trial among school children in Bangladesh.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interventions providing foods fortified with multiple micronutrients can be a cost-effective and sustainable strategy to improve micronutrient status and physical growth of school children. We evaluated the effect of micronutrient-fortified yoghurt on the biochemical status of important micronutrients (iron, zinc, iodine, vitamin A) as well as growth indicators among school children in Bogra district of Bangladesh.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a double-masked randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted in 4 primary schools, 1010 children from classes 1-4 (age 6-9 years) were randomly allocated to receive either micronutrient fortified yoghurt (FY, n = 501) or non-fortified yoghurt (NFY, n = 509). For one year, children were fed with 60 g yoghurt everyday providing 30% RDA for iron, zinc, iodine and vitamin A. Anthropometric measurements and blood/urine samples were collected at base-, mid- and end-line. All children (FY, n = 278, NFY, n = 293) consenting for the end-line blood sample were included in the present analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups were comparable at baseline for socio-economic status variables, micronutrient status markers and anthropometry measures. Compliance was similar in both the groups. At baseline 53.4% of the population was anemic; 2.1% was iron deficient (ferritin <15.0 μg/L and TfR > 8.3 mg/L). Children in the FY group showed improvement in Hb (mean difference: 1.5; 95% CI: 0.4-2.5; p = 0.006) as compared to NFY group. Retinol binding protein (mean diff: 0.05; 95% CI: 0.002-0.09; p = 0.04) and iodine levels (mean difference: 39.87; 95% CI: 20.39-59.35; p < 0.001) decreased between base and end-line but the decrease was significantly less in the FY group. Compared to NFY, the FY group had better height gain velocity (mean diff: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.05-0.60; p = 0.02) and height-for-age z-scores (mean diff: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.02-0.33; p = 0.03). There was no difference in weight gain velocity, weight-for-age z-scores or Body Mass Index z-scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the absence of iron deficiency at baseline the impact on iron status would not be expected to be observed and hence cannot be evaluated. Improved Hb concentrations in the absence of a change in iron status suggest improved utilization of iron possibly due to vitamin A and zinc availability. Fortification improved height gain without affecting weight gain.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT00980733.
authors.affiliation: Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. ssazawal@jhsph.edu
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sazawal
authors.forename: A  K M Ahsan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Habib
authors.forename: Usha
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dhingra
authors.forename: Arup
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dutta
authors.forename: Pratibha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dhingra
authors.forename: Archana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.forename: Saikat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deb
authors.forename: Jahangir
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: Asmaul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Husna
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Black
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001459:Bangladesh; D015415:Biomarkers; D049628:Body Size / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000172:deficiency / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012574:Schools; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015014:Yogurt
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018977:Micronutrients