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Assessment of Micronutrient Status in Pregnant Malawian Women Before and After Treatment for Moderate Malnutrition
Author(s) -
Glosz Cambria M,
Reaves Scott,
Manary Mark,
Papathakis Peggy
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.892.9
Subject(s) - micronutrient , medicine , vitamin , malnutrition , micronutrient deficiency , vitamin a deficiency , biofortification , retinol , zoology , food science , physiology , biology , pathology
Background Multiple micronutrient deficiencies are prevalent in pregnant women in developing countries, and can result in adverse effects to both the mother and infant. Objective The objective was to assess change in micronutrient and protein levels in moderately malnourished pregnant Malawian women after receiving one of three nutritional interventions. Methods Serum retinol, 25‐hydroxyvitamin D, ferritin, vitamin B 12 , folate, zinc, albumin and C‐reactive protein concentrations were measured in pregnant women with MUAC >20.6 cm and <23.0 cm at baseline (n=343) and 10 weeks later (n=210) after receiving either: 1) macro‐ and micronutrient fortified, peanut‐based, ready‐to‐use supplementary food (RUSF), 2) corn‐soy blended flour with a prenatal multiple micronutrient supplement (CSB‐UNIMMAP), or 3) corn‐soy blended flour with iron and folic acid (CSB‐IFA). Each provides approximately double the RDA of selected nutrients and 900 kcal/day. Results Baseline micronutrient levels indicated high rates of deficiency in zinc (86.9%), albumin (39.9%), vitamin B 12 (35.7%), vitamin D (36.1%), and marginal retinol status (47.0%). Preliminary results show the mean changes in folate from week 0 to week 10 were 2.22, 1.80, and 4.26 ng/mL for RUSF, CSB‐UNIMMAP, and CSB‐IFA respectively (p=0.002). Mean changes in vitamin D were 6.38, 3.18, and 2.18 ng/mL for RUSF, CSB‐UNIMMAP, and CSB‐IFA respectively (p=0.004). The rates of deficiency at week 10 for vitamin B 12 were 34.7%, 44.0%, and 62.8% for RUSF, CSB‐UNIMMAP, and CSB‐IFA respectively (p=0.003). The other changes in micronutrients did not reach levels of significance. Conclusions Deficiencies in zinc, vitamin D, vitamin B 12 and albumin are common among moderately malnourished pregnant Malawian women. Preliminary data indicates significant changes in vitamin B 12 deficiency and folate and vitamin D concentrations from week 0 to week 10, with the RUSF group having the greatest improvement for vitamin D and vitamin B 12 . Support or Funding Information U.S. Dairy Export Council, Dairy Research Initiative, California State University Agricultural Research Institute‐ San Luis Obispo