Efficacy of fortified rice consumption on the nutritionalsatus of preschool children

Abstract

The socio-economic profile analysis revealed significant differences between the two groups. The families in the control group were more likely to have higher income levels, and a higher proportion of the parents in the control group had attained higher levels of education. In contrast, the intervention group predominantly consisted of families with lower incomes, where the majority earned less than ₹10,000 per month. This difference in socio-economic status may have implications for overall health outcomes, as access to diverse and nutritious food options can be influenced by income and education. Additionally, the occupation of the parents was also found to differ significantly between the groups. Anthropometric assessments, which included measurements of height, weight, and BMI, revealed no significant differences between the two groups. However, skin fold Thesocio-economicprofileanalysis revealed significant differences between the twogroups. Thefamilies in the control groupweremorelikely to havehigher income levels, and ahigher proportion of the parents in thecontrol grouphad attained higher levels ofeducation. In contrast, the intervention grouppredominantly consisted of families with lower incomes, wherethemajority earned less than₹10,000 per month. Thisdifference in socio-economicstatus may haveimplications foroverallhealth outcomes, as accessto diverseand nutritious food options canbeinfluencedby incomeandeducation.Additionally, the occupation of the parents was also foundto differsignificantly between the groups. Anthropometric assessments, which included measurements of height, weight, andBMI, revealed nosignificant differencesbetweenthe two groups. However, skin fold iii

thickness, a measure of subcutaneous fat, showed lower values for children in the intervention group, particularly among 3-year-old boys (mean difference: -2.14 mm, p=0.049). This difference may suggest a variation in fat stores between the two groups, possibly reflecting differing dietary patterns or nutritional intake. In pulse rate measurements, no significant differences were observed between the control and intervention groups. Both groups showed similar results in terms of pulse rate, indicating no major variation in immediate physiological responses to diet. However, clinical examination highlighted some important findings. Most children in both groups were in good health overall, but clinical symptoms associated with micronutrient deficiencies, such as pale conjunctiva, pale skin, and spoon-shaped nails, were more prevalent in the control group. These symptoms are commonly linked with deficiencies in iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid, highlighting the inadequate intake of essential nutrients in the control group’s diet. Food frequency data indicated that while both groups consumed food from similar categories, notable differences were observed in the consumption of animal-based foods. The intervention group, consuming fortified rice, showed a greater intake of micronutrients compared to the control group, especially with regard to iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid. The comparison of nutrient intake against the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) revealed that the control group had a higher intake of carbohydrates (150.7g vs. 167.18g, p=0.01) and fat (20.03g vs. 16.56g, p=0.01), whereas the intervention group had a higher intake of essential micronutrients, such as iron (8.33 mg vs. 7.4 mg, p=0.003), vitamin B12 (0.09 μg vs. 0.08 μg), and folic acid (114.96 μg vs. 98.36 μg). This suggests that fortified rice significantly influenced the micronutrient intake, particularly for iron, which is crucial for the prevention of anemia. Further analysis of nutrient intake revealed significant differences in the levels of micronutrients between the groups. The intervention group had a significantly higher intake of iron (8.33 mg vs. 7.4 mg, p<0.001), vitamin A (489.03 μg vs. 412.96 μg, p=0.001), vitamin B12, and folic acid. These findings support the hypothesis that fortified rice contributed positively to the intake of essential micronutrients. The

improved intake of iron and vitamins A, B12, and folic acid in the intervention group is particularly important for preschool children, as these micronutrients are essential for growth, cognitive development, and the prevention of common deficiencies that can lead to anemia and other health issues. The results of the study suggest that while there were no significant changes observed in anthropometric parameters such as height, weight, or BMI, the consumption of fortified rice had a clear positive impact on the intake of essential micronutrients, especially iron and vitamins A, B12, and folic acid. These micronutrients are crucial for the health and development of preschool children, and the fortified rice intervention appears to have contributed significantly to meeting the nutritional requirements of the children in the intervention group. Furthermore, clinical symptoms such as pale conjunctiva, pale skin, and spoon-shaped nails, which are commonly associated with micronutrient deficiencies, were notably absent in the intervention group, underscoring the role of fortified rice in preventing such deficiencies. In conclusion, while the study did not find significant differences in growth parameters, the impact of fortified rice on improving the nutritional intake of essential micronutrients like iron, vitamin A, vitamin B12, and folic acid is significant. The fortified rice intervention demonstrated its potential as an effective strategy to combat micronutrient deficiencies in preschool children, especially in low-income families, and underscores the importance of fortification programs in public health nutrition. The control group, exhibiting clear clinical signs of deficiencies, highlights the critical need for fortified foods to address gaps in micronutrient intake and improve overall health outcomes in young children.