Vitamin A supplementation in children with poor vitamin A and iron status increases erythropoietin and hemoglobin concentrations without changing total body iron.

Background: Vitamin A deficiency impairs iron metabolism; vitamin A supplementation of vitamin A-deficient populations may reduce anemia. The mechanism of these effects is unclear. In vitro and in animal models, vitamin A treatment increases the production of erythropoietin (EPO), a stimulant of erythropoiesis.

Iron deficiency due to consumption of a habitual diet low in bioavailable iron: a longitudinal cohort study in Moroccan children.

Background: In many developing countries, cereal and legume-based diets contain low amounts of bioavailable iron, which may increase the risk of iron deficiency.

Objective: The objective was to measure change in iron status in Moroccan children who consumed their habitual diet containing low amounts of bioavailable iron.

Design: The design was a prospective, longitudinal, free-living cohort study in iron-replete, nonanemic 6-10-y-old children (n = 126).

Triple fortification of salt with microcapsules of iodine, iron, and vitamin A.

Background: In many developing countries, children are at high risk of goiter, vitamin A deficiency, and iron deficiency anemia.

Objective: We aimed to develop a stable, efficacious salt fortified with iodine, iron, and vitamin A.

Design: A novel spray-cooling technique was used with hydrogenated palm oil to package potassium iodate, micronized ferric pyrophosphate, and retinyl palmitate into microcapsules (mean particle size: 100 mum).

The effects of vitamin A deficiency and vitamin A supplementation on thyroid function in goitrous children.

In developing countries, children are at high risk for both the iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) and vitamin A deficiency (VAD). The study aim was to determine the effects of VAD and vitamin A (VA) supplementation on thyroid function in an area of endemic goiter. In a double-blind, randomized, 10-month trial, Moroccan children with IDD and VAD (n = 138) were given iodized salt and either VA (200,000 IU) or placebo at 0 and 5 months.

Dual fortification of salt with iodine and micronized ferric pyrophosphate: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

Background: In many developing countries, children are at high risk for both goiter and anemia. In areas of subsistence farming in rural Africa, salt is one of the few regularly purchased food items and could be a good fortification vehicle for iodine and iron, provided that a stable yet bioavailable iron fortificant is used.

Objective: We tested the efficacy of salt dual-fortified with iodine and micronized ferric pyrophosphate for reducing the prevalence of iodine and iron deficiencies in children.

Addition of microencapsulated iron to iodized salt improves the efficacy of iodine in goitrous, iron-deficient children: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

Objective: In many developing countries, children are at high risk for both goiter and anemia. Iron (Fe) deficiency adversely effects thyroid metabolism and reduces efficacy of iodine prophylaxis in areas of endemic goiter. The study aim was to determine if co-fortification of iodized salt with Fe would improve efficacy of the iodine in goitrous children with a high prevalence of anemia.