Effects of supplemental animal source foods on diet and blood markers of micronutrient status among reproductive‐age women in rural Vietnam

Our objective was to determine the effects of daily mid‐morning supplemental animal source foods (ASF) on usual diets and blood markers of iron, zinc, vitamin A and B 12 status among reproductive age women in rural Vietnam. 117 non‐pregnant women 18 to 30 years old consented to participate, and were randomized to receive either daily ASF (median 144 kcal, 9 mg iron, 3.3 mg zinc, 1000 μg RAE vitamin A, 7 μg vitamin B 12 and 20 g protein/supplement) or a control snack composed primarily of tofu (median 149 kcal, 0.9 mg iron, 0.8 mg zinc, 0 μg RAE vitamin A, 0 μg vitamin B 12 and 8 g protein/supplement) 5 days/wk for 6 months. Usual diets were determined by random, non‐consecutive repeated 24‐hr recalls at baseline, 3, and 6 months (10 recalls per participant). No displacing effect on usual diet was observed. Based on diet, 24% were at risk for deficiency of iron, 32% for vitamin A, 54% for zinc, and 88% for B 12 . Initially, anemia was found in 15% of the women and 81% had low levels of plasma zinc. None of these women had low blood levels of vitamin A of B 12 . After 6 months of ASF supplementation, hemoglobin increased significantly (p < 0.01), but no significant changes were observed in plasma zinc, vitamin A or serum B 12 .