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Effect of daily versus weekly home fortification with multiple micronutrient powder on haemoglobin concentration of young children in a rural area, Lao People's Democratic Republic: A randomised trial


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Authors

Kounnavong, S 
Sunahara, T 
Mascie-Taylor, CGN 
Hashizume, M 
Okumura, J 

Abstract

Abstract Background Multiple micronutrient deficiencies, in particular iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is a severe public health problem in Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). Because of the practical difficulties encountered in improving the nutritional adequacy of traditional complementary foods and the limitations associated with the use of liquid iron supplementation for the treatment and prevention of IDA in infants and young children, recently, home-fortification with multivitamins and minerals sprinkles was recommended. This study aims to compare the effect of twice weekly versus daily supplementation with multivitamins and minerals powder (MMP) on anaemia prevalence, haemoglobin concentration, and growth in infants and young children in a rural community in Lao PDR. Methods A randomized trial was conducted in six rural communities. Children aged 6 to 52 months (n = 336) were randomly assigned to a control group (n = 110) or to one of two intervention groups receiving either two sachets per week (n = 115) or a daily sachet (n = 111) of MMP for 24 weeks; 331 children completed the study. A finger prick of blood was taken at baseline, at week 12, and again at week 24 to determine haemoglobin concentration. Anthropometric measurements were taken every 4 weeks. The McNemar test was used to assess within group differences at three time points in the study subjects with anaemia and one-way ANOVA was used to assess changes in mean haemoglobin concentration in the treatment groups. Results MMP supplementation resulted in significant improvements in haemoglobin concentration and in the reduction of anaemia prevalence in the two treatment groups compared with the control group (p <0.001). The severely to moderately anaemic children (Hb <100 g/L) on daily supplementation recovered faster than those on twice weekly supplementation. MMP was well accepted and compliance was high in both treatment groups. Overall, the improvement in the weight for age Z-score was very small and not statistically significant across the three study groups. Conclusions MMP supplementation had positive effects in reduction of anaemia prevalence and in improving haemoglobin concentration. For severely to moderately anaemic children, daily MMP supplementation was more effective in improving haemoglobin concentration and reducing anaemia prevalence. A longer intervention period is probably needed to have a positive effect on growth.

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Keywords

32 Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, 3210 Nutrition and Dietetics, 3202 Clinical Sciences, Clinical Trials and Supportive Activities, Clinical Research, Nutrition, Pediatric, 6 Evaluation of treatments and therapeutic interventions, 3 Prevention of disease and conditions, and promotion of well-being, 6.1 Pharmaceuticals, 3.3 Nutrition and chemoprevention, Blood, Anemia, Iron-Deficiency, Child, Preschool, Dietary Supplements, Female, Hemoglobins, Humans, Infant, Iron, Dietary, Laos, Male, Micronutrients, Patient Compliance, Powders, Prevalence, Rural Population

Journal Title

Nutrition Journal

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1475-2891
1475-2891

Volume Title

Publisher

Springer Nature