Food fortification as a strategy in achieving better nutritional status of pre-school children

Abstract

The baseline serum levels of beta-carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C and zinc for experimental (N = I 17) group in a double blind study among pre-school children (4 - 6 years) were 5.11 ± 2.41, 307.69 ± 157.44 mcg, 0.16 ± 0.07 and 0.52 ± 0.11 mg, respectively. The baseline serum levels for the same in the control (N = 104) group were 5.29 ± 2.46, 330.52 ± 73.93 mcg, 0.14 ± 0.05 and 0.52 ± 0.09 mg, respectively. After the intervention with fortified antioxidants in a cup of 100 ml ice cream, five days a week for a duration of six months the experimental group had serum levels for beta-carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C and zinc as 22.64 ± 3.72, 938.27 ± 163.643 mcg, 0.96 ± 0.28 and 1.11 ± 0.14 mg, respectively (Paired t-test = 0.000) whereas n control group they were 4.80 ± 2.26, 326.50 ± 72.54 rncg, 0.15 ± 0.06 and 0.53 .t 0.09 rng, respectively with no significant change.