![]() |
|
|
National Institute of Nutrition, Hanoi, Vietnam, and * The Institute of Research for Development, Research Unit "Nutrition, Food, Societies," Montpellier, France
3To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: Hopnin{at}hn.vnn.vn.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed to assess the efficacy of different micronutrient supplementation regimes for improving micronutrient status, preventing anemia, and growth faltering of Vietnamese infants. A population-based sample of 306 infants aged 612 mo, split in 4 treatment groups, received daily multiple micronutrient (DMM), daily placebo (P), weekly multiple micronutrient (WMM), or daily iron (DI) supplements for 6 mo, 7 d/wk, under supervision. Weight and length were measured monthly, and anemia and plasma levels of ferritin, zinc, riboflavin, retinol, tocopherol, and homocysteine were determined before and after the supplementation. Z-scores for length-for-age and weight-for-age worsened significantly in all groups, but the length-for-age Z-score decreased significantly less in the DMM group (0.32 ± 0.05) than in the P and WMM groups (0.49 ± 0.05 and 0.51 ± 0.05, respectively, P = 0.001). Hemoglobin levels increased significantly more in the DMM group [mean (95%CI): 16.4 g/L (12.420.4)] than in the P group [8.6 g/L (5.012.2), P = 0.04), with intermediate nonsignificant increases in the WMM [15.0 g/L (11.518.5)] and the DI [12.9 g/L (8.417.3)] groups. Ferritin changes were significantly greater in DMM (12.1 µg/L) and DI (9.5 µg/L) than in P (14.7 µg/L) and WMM groups (9.7 µg/L). Of the other micronutrients, only tocopherol showed a significantly greater level in the DMM group compared with P. Anemia still affected a quarter and zinc deficiency affected a third of infants although there was no iron deficiency after 6 mo of supplementation with DMM, suggesting that multiple factors are causing anemia and that the dose of zinc is too small.
KEY WORDS: multiple micronutrient supplementation anemia Vietnam infant growth
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
L. H. Allen, J. M. Peerson, and D. K. Olney Provision of Multiple Rather Than Two or Fewer Micronutrients More Effectively Improves Growth and Other Outcomes in Micronutrient-Deficient Children and Adults J. Nutr., May 1, 2009; 139(5): 1022 - 1030. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
T. T. Nga, P. Winichagoon, M. A. Dijkhuizen, N. C. Khan, E. Wasantwisut, H. Furr, and F. T. Wieringa Multi-Micronutrient-Fortified Biscuits Decreased Prevalence of Anemia and Improved Micronutrient Status and Effectiveness of Deworming in Rural Vietnamese School Children J. Nutr., May 1, 2009; 139(5): 1013 - 1021. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
U. Ramakrishnan, L. M Neufeld, R. Flores, J. Rivera, and R. Martorell Multiple micronutrient supplementation during early childhood increases child size at 2 y of age only among high compliers Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, April 1, 2009; 89(4): 1125 - 1131. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
U. Ramakrishnan, P. Nguyen, and R. Martorell Effects of micronutrients on growth of children under 5 y of age: meta-analyses of single and multiple nutrient interventions Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2009; 89(1): 191 - 203. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. Adu-Afarwuah, A. Lartey, K. H Brown, S. Zlotkin, A. Briend, and K. G Dewey Home fortification of complementary foods with micronutrient supplements is well accepted and has positive effects on infant iron status in Ghana Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, April 1, 2008; 87(4): 929 - 938. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. Adu-Afarwuah, A. Lartey, K. H Brown, S. Zlotkin, A. Briend, and K. G Dewey Randomized comparison of 3 types of micronutrient supplements for home fortification of complementary foods in Ghana: effects on growth and motor development Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2007; 86(2): 412 - 420. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. T. Howard, S. de Pee, M. Sari, M. W. Bloem, and R. D. Semba Association of diarrhea with anemia among children under age five living in rural areas of Indonesia J Trop Pediatr, August 1, 2007; 53(4): 238 - 244. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. F. Walker, K. Kordas, R. J Stoltzfus, and R. E Black Interactive effects of iron and zinc on biochemical and functional outcomes in supplementation trials Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, July 1, 2005; 82(1): 5 - 12. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||