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After 1 y of distributing a milk-based fortified weaning food provided by the Mexican social program PROGRESA, positive effects on physical growth, prevalence of anemia, and several vitamin deficiencies were observed. There was no effect on iron status, which we hypothesized was related to the poor bioavailability of the reduced iron used as a fortificant in PROGRESA. The objective of this study was to compare the iron bioavailability from different iron sources added as fortificants to the weaning food. Children (n = 54) aged 2-4 y were randomly assigned to receive 44 g of the weaning food fortified with ferrous sulfate, ferrous fumarate, or reduced iron + Na(2)EDTA. Iron absorption was measured using an established double-tracer isotopic methodology. Iron absorption from ferrous sulfate (7.9 +/- 9.8%) was greater than from either ferrous fumarate (2.43 +/- 2.3%) or reduced iron + Na(2)EDTA (1.4 +/- 1.3%) (P < 0.01). The absorption of log-(58)Fe sulfate given with the iron source correlated with serum ferritin (s-ferritin) concentration (n = 13, r = 0.63, P = 0.01) and log-(57)Fe absorption (reference dose) (n = 14, r = -0.52, P = 0.02). Absorption from ferrous fumarate and reduced iron + Na2EDTA did not correlate with s-ferritin or absorption of (57)Fe. The recommended daily portion of the fortified complementary food provides an average of 0.256, 0.096, 0.046 mmol (1.44, 0.54, and 0.26 mg) of absorbed iron, if fortified with sulfate, fumarate and reduced iron + Na(2)EDTA, respectively. Ferrous sulfate was more bioavailable than either ferrous fumarate or reduced iron + Na(2)EDTA when added to the milk-based fortified food and more readily met the average daily iron requirements for children 2-3 y of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provision of the bone minerals and vitamin D as fortificants in food or as dietary supplements designed for older infants and toddlers in Latin America is likely to be beneficial and safe. Currently available data are inadequate to establish the precise amounts of these nutrients that would be required for such a supplement. These amounts would vary according to the local base diet. However, reasonable estimates can be made on the basis of current dietary recommendations as well as existing data on bioavailability and customary intake. The strongest case can be made for calcium and vitamin D supplementation. Because excessive dietary calcium can reduce zinc absorption as a result of interactive effects within the intestine, an appropriate ratio of calcium to zinc should be used, even if this means adding zinc as a fortificant or supplement. Magnesium supplementation may be appropriate in some circumstances but it cannot be routinely advocated at present. It is unlikely that phosphorus supplementation is needed for most population groups because of the relatively high usual dietary phosphorus intakes, primarily from phosphate salts added to carbonated beverages and as food preservatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their widespread acceptability, multinutrient-fortified foods and beverages may be useful in reducing micronutrient deficiencies, especially in developing countries. We studied the efficacy of a new fortified beverage in improving the nutritional status of children in Botswana. We screened 311 lower income urban school children, ages 6-11 y, in two primary schools near Gaborone. Children were given seven 240-mL servings weekly of either an experimental beverage (EXP) fortified with 12 micronutrients or an isoenergetic placebo drink (CON) for 8 wk. Weight, mid-upper arm circumference, hemoglobin, retinol, ferritin, vitamin B-12, folate and riboflavin status were measured at baseline and at the end of the study. Plasma zinc and serum transferrin receptors also were measured at study end. A total of 145 children in the EXP group and 118 in the CON group completed the trial. Using multivariate analysis, the changes in mid-upper arm circumference, weight for age and total weight were significantly better in the EXP group than in the CON group (P < 0.01). Ferritin, riboflavin and folate status were significantly better in the EXP group than in the CON group at study end (P < 0.01), but serum vitamin B-12 was not. Zinc was significantly higher and transferrin receptors were significantly lower at the conclusion of the study in the EXP group than in the CON group (P < 0.001). Mean plasma retinol concentrations, which were low (<0.7 micro mol/L) in both groups, did not change. We conclude that a micronutrient-fortified beverage may be beneficial as part of a comprehensive nutritional supplementation program in populations at risk for micronutrient deficiencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]