title: Effect of African leafy vegetables on the micronutrient status of mildly deficient farm-school children in South Africa: a randomized controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess the effect of African leafy vegetable (ALV) consumption on Fe, Zn and vitamin A status in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children were randomly allocated to receive either a 300 g cooked ALV dish and school meal starch (n 86) or the normal school meal (n 81) five times per week for three months. ALV in the dish consisted mainly of Amaranthus cruentus (at least 80 %) and the remainder of Cleome gynandra, Cucurbita maxima or Vigna unguiculata. Nutrient content and consumer acceptance of the ALV dish were also determined.
  
  
  METHODS
  North West Province, South Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Grade R to grade 4 children (6-12 years old) of two farm schools.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ALV dish contributed 11·6-15·8 mg Fe and 1·4-3·7 mg Zn. At baseline, prevalence of deficiencies in the intervention group was 16·0 %, 16·3 %, 7·0 % and 75·6 %, respectively, for anaemia (Hb<11·5 g/dl), Fe (serum ferritin<15 µg/l), vitamin A (serum retinol<20 μg/dl) and Zn (serum Zn<65 μg/dl); and in the control group 10·5 %, 18·5 %, 2·5 % and 75·3 %, respectively. No significant estimated intervention effect was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This randomized controlled trial showed that ALV were unable to improve serum retinol, serum ferritin or Hb if there are only mild deficiencies present. Furthermore, despite the low Zn status in the study population, ALV consumption did not improve serum Zn concentrations either.
authors.affiliation: 1Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research, Faculty of Health Sciences,North-West University,Potchefstroom,South Africa.
authors.forename: Marinka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van der Hoeven
authors.affiliation: 3Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit,South African Medical Research Council,Cape Town,South Africa.
authors.forename: Mieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faber
authors.affiliation: 2Centre of Excellence for Nutrition Faculty of Health Sciences,North-West University,Private Bag X6001,Potchefstroom 2520,South Africa.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Osei
authors.affiliation: 1Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research, Faculty of Health Sciences,North-West University,Potchefstroom,South Africa.
authors.forename: Annamarie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kruger
authors.affiliation: 2Centre of Excellence for Nutrition Faculty of Health Sciences,North-West University,Private Bag X6001,Potchefstroom 2520,South Africa.
authors.forename: Cornelius M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Smuts
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D000072001:Diet, Healthy; D002149:Energy Intake; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency*; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000097:blood; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood; D012424:Rural Population; D012574:Schools; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014675:Vegetables; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients; D011524:Protoporphyrins; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D014801:Vitamin A; D005293:Ferritins; C028025:protoporphyrin IX; D015032:Zinc
keywords: African leafy vegetables; Children; Iron; South Africa; Zinc