scholarly journals Effect of African leafy vegetables on the micronutrient status of mildly deficient farm-school children in South Africa: a randomized controlled study

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 935-945 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marinka van der Hoeven ◽  
Mieke Faber ◽  
Jennifer Osei ◽  
Annamarie Kruger ◽  
Cornelius M Smuts
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
Serum Ferritin ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Leafy Vegetables ◽  
Serum Retinol ◽  
School Meal ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Serum Zn

AbstractObjectiveA randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess the effect of African leafy vegetable (ALV) consumption on Fe, Zn and vitamin A status in children.DesignChildren were randomly allocated to receive either a 300 g cooked ALV dish and school meal starch (n86) or the normal school meal (n81) five times per week for three months. ALV in the dish consisted mainly ofAmaranthus cruentus(at least 80 %) and the remainder ofCleome gynandra,Cucurbita maximaorVigna unguiculata. Nutrient content and consumer acceptance of the ALV dish were also determined.SettingNorth West Province, South Africa.SubjectsGrade R to grade 4 children (6–12 years old) of two farm schools.ResultsThe 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.ConclusionsThis 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.

scholarly journals Daily consumption of pro-vitamin A biofortified (yellow) cassava improves serum retinol concentrations in preschool children in Nigeria: a randomized controlled trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 113 (1) ◽  
pp. 221-231
Author(s):  
Ibukun Afolami ◽  
Martin N Mwangi ◽  
Folake Samuel ◽  
Erick Boy ◽  
Paul Ilona ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Preschool Children ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Asymptomatic Malaria ◽  
Serum Retinol ◽  
Daily Consumption ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Vitamin A Status ◽  
Β Carotene

ABSTRACT Background Vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. Pro-vitamin A biofortified (yellow) cassava has the potential to contribute significantly to improve vitamin A status, especially in populations that are difficult to reach with other strategies. Objectives The study aimed at determining the efficacy of biofortified cassava to improve vitamin A status of Nigerian preschool children. Methods An open-label randomized controlled trial was conducted in southwestern Nigeria. In total, 176 preschool children (aged 3–5 y) were randomized into 2 parallel arms comprising an experimental group (n = 88), fed foods prepared from biofortified (yellow) cassava, and a control group (n = 88), fed foods prepared from white cassava, twice a day, 6 d a week for 93 d. Results A total of 159 children completed the trial (yellow cassava group, n = 80; white cassava group, n = 79). Children consumed 221 and 74 µg/d retinol activity equivalents from intervention foods in the yellow and white cassava groups, respectively. The treatment effect on serum retinol concentrations at the end of the feeding trial was 0.06 µmol/L (95% CI: 0.004, 0.124 µmol/L), after adjustment for baseline retinol concentrations, inflammation, and asymptomatic malaria status. No significant treatment effects were detected for serum β-carotene (adjusted effect: 3.9%; 95% CI: −0.6%, 8.6%) and gut permeability (adjusted effect: 0.002; 95% CI: −0.089, 0.092), but a significant effect was detected for hemoglobin concentrations (adjusted effect: 3.08 g/L; 95% CI: 0.38, 5.78 g/L). Conclusions Daily consumption of β-carotene from biofortified cassava improved serum retinol and hemoglobin concentrations modestly in Nigerian preschool children. This study was registered with clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02627222.

scholarly journals Effect of Vitamin A-Fortified Rice on the Gut Microbiota of Thai Lactating Women and Their Exclusively Breastfed Infants

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukman Azis ◽  
◽  
Siwaporn Pinkaew ◽  
Santad Wichienchot ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Vitamin A ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Lactating Women ◽  
Breastfed Infants ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Lactobacillus Spp ◽  
Clostridium Spp

Abstract The optimal vitamin A (VA) status of lactating women is important for mothers and their breastfed infants, especially in protecting against infectious diseases. Vitamin A fortified rice is one of the food-base intervention strategy which has the potential to improve VA status. Vitamin A and gut microbiota are interrelated in their effect on human health and immunity however no specific relationship has been proved in these groups of population. This study aimed to determine the effect of VA fortified rice on the gut microbiota changes of lactating woman-exclusively breastfed infant pairs. A double-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT) of VA fortified rice was conducted in 70 lactating women-infants pairs for 14 weeks. Gut microbiota was measured using the fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and next generation sequencing (NGS) technique. Based on the FISH technique, the numbers of Clostridium spp. /Enterobacter spp. were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in mothers fed VA-fortified rice at the end of the study. In contrast, the abundance of Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. of infants whose mothers fed with VA-fortified rice was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the control group. The NGS technique confirmed that results with the increasing of Lactobacillus, B. longum and B. Choerinum in the infant of intervention group. In conclusion, VA-fortified rice was efficacious in decreasing Clostridium spp. /Enterobacter spp. in lactating women and raising the number of Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. in their breastfed infants. Keywords: Breastfeeding, Gut microbiota, Lactating woman-infant pairs, Randomized controlled trial, Vitamin A

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document