A multi‐micronutrient beverage enhances the vitamin A and zinc status of Nigerian primary school children

We completed a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial to determine the effects of a multi‐micronutrient (MMN) beverage on biochemical and anthropometric indicators of nutritional status among a group of primary school children participating in pilot school‐feeding program in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Anthropometric and biochemical data were obtained from 566 children 5 – 13 y, in two government run primary schools. Children received 250 ml daily servings of a MMN beverage fortified with 26 nutrients, or a placebo beverage, 5‐days per week for 6‐months. All children were given 200 mg Albendazole one week prior to the baseline blood draw, and one month prior to the final blood draw. Height, weight, hemoglobin, C‐reactive protein, ferritin, retinol, and zinc were measured at baseline and at the end of the study. A total of 270 children in the MMN group, and 264 children in the control group completed the study. The adjusted mean changes were significantly greater in the MMN group compared to control for serum retinol (2.9 ± 0.1 vs. 0.6 ± 0.1 μg/dL, P = 0.016) and serum zinc (6.5 ± 1.3 vs. 3.9 ± 1.3 μg/dL, P = 0.031). There were no significant group‐wise differences at the end of the intervention for hemoglobin or serum ferritin. There were slightly higher self‐reports of vomiting in the MMN group, which may be attributable administering supplemental iron in an iron endemic region. The cost‐effectiveness and safety of this intervention strategy needs to be further evaluated. This project was supported by funding from GAIN, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (Geneva, Switzerland).