Effect of supplementation of micronutrient fortified biscuits on serum total proteins and vitamin A levels of adolescent girls (10-16 years) of Jaipur city, India

Abstract

Vitamin A deficiency is widely prevalent amongst women and children in India. The aim of the study is to study the effect of supplementation of micronutrient fortified biscuits on serum total proteins and vitamin A levels of adolescent girls (n = 46, 10-16 years) studying in a government school in Jaipur city, India. The study was designed to be an intervention study. The intervention was with biscuits containing 11.4 g of protein and fortified with 600 mcg vitamin A, 30 mg iron, 100 mcg folic acid, 40 mg vitamin C and 150 mcg iodine per day for all working days in a 4 month period. The results indicated that the protein status of 93.5% of the adolescent girls was adequate prior to intervention, this percentage increased to 97.8% at post intervention. Vitamin A supplementation augmented the percentage of adolescent girls in the 'normal' category from 56.1% to 73.2% and decreased the percentage of adolescent girls in the 'low' category from 41.5% to 26.8%. One girl who was in the 'deficient' category moved to the 'low' category. Hence, supplementation with biscuits fortified with vitamin A and other micronutrients improved the vitamin A status of the adolescent girls markedly. It is, therefore, recommended that the school system can be used for micronutrient supplementation to improve the micronutrient status of children and adolescents as the students are more regimented here for distribution of nutrient fortified food products.