title: Effects of a food-based intervention on markers of micronutrient status among Indian women of low socio-economic status.
abstract: Intakes of micronutrient-rich foods are low among Indian women of reproductive age. We investigated whether consumption of a food-based micronutrient-rich snack increased markers of blood micronutrient concentrations when compared with a control snack. Non-pregnant women (n 222) aged 14-35 years living in a Mumbai slum were randomised to receive a treatment snack (containing green leafy vegetables, dried fruit and whole milk powder), or a control snack containing foods of low micronutrient content such as wheat flour, potato and tapioca. The snacks were consumed under observation 6 d per week for 12 weeks, compliance was recorded, and blood was collected at 0 and 12 weeks. Food-frequency data were collected at both time points. Compliance (defined as the proportion of women who consumed ≥ 3 snacks/week) was >85 % in both groups. We assessed the effects of group allocation on 12-week nutrient concentrations using ANCOVA models with respective 0-week concentrations, BMI, compliance, standard of living, fruit and green leafy vegetable consumption and use of synthetic nutrients as covariates. The treatment snack significantly increased β-carotene concentrations (treatment effect: 47·1 nmol/l, 95 % CI 6·5, 87·7). There was no effect of group allocation on concentrations of ferritin, retinol, ascorbate, folate or vitamin B12. The present study shows that locally sourced foods can be made into acceptable snacks that may increase serum β-carotene concentrations among women of reproductive age. However, no increase in circulating concentrations of the other nutrients measured was observed.
authors: Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton,Southampton,UK.
authors: Sarah H
authors: SH
authors: Kehoe
authors: Centre for Study of Social Change,Mumbai,India.
authors: Harsha
authors: H
authors: Chopra
authors: Centre for Study of Social Change,Mumbai,India.
authors: Sirazul A
authors: SA
authors: Sahariah
authors: Diabetes Unit, King Edward Memorial Hospital Research Centre,Pune,India.
authors: Dattatray
authors: D
authors: Bhat
authors: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Nair Hospital,Mumbai,India.
authors: Renuka P
authors: RP
authors: Munshi
authors: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Nair Hospital,Mumbai,India.
authors: Falguni
authors: F
authors: Panchal
authors: Medical Research Council Human Nutrition Research, Elsie Widdowson Laboratory,Cambridge,UK.
authors: Stephen
authors: S
authors: Young
authors: Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton,Southampton,UK.
authors: Nick
authors: N
authors: Brown
authors: Apnalaya,Mumbai,India.
authors: Dnyaneshwar
authors: D
authors: Tarwande
authors: Centre for Study of Social Change,Mumbai,India.
authors: Meera
authors: M
authors: Gandhi
authors: Public Health Nutrition, University of Southampton,Southampton,UK.
authors: Barrie M
authors: BM
authors: Margetts
authors: Centre for Study of Social Change,Mumbai,India.
authors: Ramesh D
authors: RD
authors: Potdar
authors: Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton,Southampton,UK.
authors: Caroline H D
authors: CH
authors: Fall
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology; D023801:Directly Observed Therapy; D005260:Female; D057141:Food, Preserved; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000208:ethnology; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology; D018515:Plant Leaves; D011203:Poverty; D062410:Snacks; D014504:Urban Health / Q000208:ethnology; D014675:Vegetables; D055815:Young Adult; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018977:Micronutrients; D008894:Milk Proteins; D019207:beta Carotene
keywords: Micronutrient status