Bioavailability of iron, vitamin A, zinc, and folic acid when added to condiments and seasonings.

Seasonings and condiments can be candidate vehicles for micronutrient fortification if consumed consistently and if dietary practices ensure bioavailability of the nutrient. In this review, we identify factors that may affect the bioavailability of iron, vitamin A, zinc, and folic acid when added to seasonings and condiments and evaluate their effects on micronutrient status. We take into consideration the chemical and physical properties of different forms of the micronutrients, the influence of the physical and chemical properties of foods and meals to which fortified seasonings and condiments are typically added, and interactions between micronutrients and the physiological and nutritional status of the target population.

A micronutrient-fortified seasoning powder reduces morbidity and improves short-term cognitive function, but has no effect on anthropometric measures in primary school children in northeast Thailand: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Reductions in iodine and zinc deficiencies and improvements in hemoglobin were achieved from a micronutrient-fortified seasoning powder consumed in school lunches by children in northeast Thailand.

Objective: The objective was to determine whether fortification with 4 micronutrients in a school lunch results in changes in children's growth, morbidity, and cognitive function compared with no fortification.

Design: In a randomized controlled trial of 569 children aged 5.

Does zinc deficiency play a role in stunting among primary school children in NE Thailand?

Stunting in school-age years may result in a decrease in adult size, and thus reduced work capacity and adverse reproductive outcomes. We have compared the mean intakes of energy, protein and selected growth-limiting nutrients in fifty-eight stunted children and 172 non-stunted controls drawn from 567 children aged 6-13 years attending ten rural schools in NE Thailand. Control children were selected randomly after stratifying children by age in each school.