Micronutrient status of Palestinian school children following salt and flour fortification: a cross-sectional study.
Anemia
Children
Fortification
Micronutrient
Palestine
Journal
BMC nutrition
ISSN: 2055-0928
Titre abrégé: BMC Nutr
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101672434
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2020
2020
Historique:
received:
29
11
2019
accepted:
30
07
2020
entrez:
1
9
2020
pubmed:
31
8
2020
medline:
31
8
2020
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
In 1996 and in 2006, Palestine initiated salt iodization and multiple micronutrient fortification of wheat flour, respectively as a strategy to prevent deficiencies of these nutrients. In 2009, we assessed the impact of these interventions on the health and nutritional status of schoolchildren residing in the West Bank. We surveyed a sample of 22 schools run by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the Palestinian Government. We randomly selected students from the first (mean age 6.7 years [SD 0.5]), sixth (11.8 years [0.6]), and ninth grades (14.8 years [0.6]). Data were obtained from 1484 (99%) of 1500 students planned for enrollment. Our results suggest that iodine intake appears adequate and there was essentially no iodine deficiency. As to the status of other micronutrients, the main nutritional micronutrient risks for schoolchildren in the West Bank continue to be low serum levels of iron, zinc, and vitamin B-12; folate levels were seemingly high. The overall prevalence of anemia was 9.6%, but there were pockets of anemia in certain districts. Almost 42% of the anemia in our sample was explained by iron deficiency. There were significant differences in iron deficiency between girls and boys, 29.5% vs. 15.7%, respectively ( Wheat flour and salt fortification has had a major influence on improving the micronutrient status of Palestinian children, for some but not all micronutrients. The recommended key blood and biochemical parameters to be incorporated in the surveillance system are iron, zinc, and vitamin B12.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
In 1996 and in 2006, Palestine initiated salt iodization and multiple micronutrient fortification of wheat flour, respectively as a strategy to prevent deficiencies of these nutrients. In 2009, we assessed the impact of these interventions on the health and nutritional status of schoolchildren residing in the West Bank.
METHODS
METHODS
We surveyed a sample of 22 schools run by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the Palestinian Government. We randomly selected students from the first (mean age 6.7 years [SD 0.5]), sixth (11.8 years [0.6]), and ninth grades (14.8 years [0.6]). Data were obtained from 1484 (99%) of 1500 students planned for enrollment.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Our results suggest that iodine intake appears adequate and there was essentially no iodine deficiency. As to the status of other micronutrients, the main nutritional micronutrient risks for schoolchildren in the West Bank continue to be low serum levels of iron, zinc, and vitamin B-12; folate levels were seemingly high. The overall prevalence of anemia was 9.6%, but there were pockets of anemia in certain districts. Almost 42% of the anemia in our sample was explained by iron deficiency. There were significant differences in iron deficiency between girls and boys, 29.5% vs. 15.7%, respectively (
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Wheat flour and salt fortification has had a major influence on improving the micronutrient status of Palestinian children, for some but not all micronutrients. The recommended key blood and biochemical parameters to be incorporated in the surveillance system are iron, zinc, and vitamin B12.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32864153
doi: 10.1186/s40795-020-00367-2
pii: 367
pmc: PMC7448451
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
38Informations de copyright
© The Author(s) 2020.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Competing interestsThe authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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