Maize meal fortification is associated with improved vitamin A and iron status in adolescents and reduced childhood anaemia in a food aid-dependent refugee population
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15096876 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Alex Seal (0000-0002-9137-5355), Andrew Seal (0000-0003-3656-4054, Institute of Child Health, corresponding author), Emmanuel Kafwembe (Tropical Diseases Research Centre), Ismail AR Kassim, Ismail Kassim (London International Development Centre), Mei Hong (0000-0003-0666-3326, London International Development Centre), Annie S Wesley (0000-0002-6302-4224, Nutrition International), Annie Wesley, John C Wood (0000-0003-0664-4379, World Food Programme), John Wood (0000-0003-0570-7075), Fathia Abdalla (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), Tina van den Briel (World Food Programme) |
| Year | 2008 |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue | 7 |
| Pages | 720-728 |
| Publication date | 2008-07-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Public Health Nutrition (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1368-9800 • E-ISSN: 1475-2727 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/s1368980007001486 |
| PMID | 18096105 |
| OpenAlex | W2070649491 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
| References cited | 20 |
Objective To assess changes in the Fe and vitamin A status of the population of Nangweshi refugee camp associated with the introduction of maize meal fortification. Design Pre- and post-intervention study using a longitudinal cohort. Setting Nangweshi refugee camp, Zambia. Subjects Two hundred and twelve adolescents (10–19 years), 157 children (6–59 months) and 118 women (20–49 years) were selected at random by household survey in July 2003 and followed up after 12 months. Results Maize grain was milled and fortified in two custom-designed mills installed at a central location in the camp and a daily ration of 400 g per person was distributed twice monthly to households as part of the routine food aid ration. During the intervention period mean Hb increased in children (0·87 g/dl; P P = 0·043) but did not increase in women. Anaemia decreased in children by 23·4 % ( P 10 -transformed) decreased by −0·082 μg/ml ( P = 0·036) indicating an improvement in the Fe status of adolescents but there was no significant decrease in the prevalence of deficiency (−8·5 %; P = 0·079). In adolescents, serum retinol increased by 0·16 μmol/l ( P P Conclusions The introduction of fortified maize meal led to a decrease in anaemia in children and a decrease in vitamin A deficiency in adolescents. Centralised, camp-level milling and fortification of maize meal is a feasible and pertinent intervention in food aid operations
Anemia · Animal science · Biology · Cohort · Environmental health · Food fortification · Fortification · Iron deficiency · Malnutrition · Meal · Micronutrient · Population · Refugee · Retinol · Vitamin · Vitamin A deficiency · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Iron Metabolism and Disorders · Medicine · Food Science · Internal Medicine · Pediatrics
| Citations per year | 0.21 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2007 - 2021 (15) |
| Highly cited | No |