Impact of a Multiple-micronutrient Fortified Salt on the Nutritional Status and Memory of Schoolchildren

Objective: This study was conducted to test the efficacy of a multiple micronutrient-fortified cooking salt. Methods: A randomized controlled trial with a pre- and post-test design was used to study children 5 to 18 years of age, with an experimental (n=213) and control group (n=189). The children were sampled from 3 residential schools and were studied for 9 months. The experimental group received a multiple micronutrient-fortified salt containing vitamins A, B₁, B₂, B₆, B₁₂, as well as folic acid, niacin, iron, iodine, and zinc. The control group received iodized salt. Biochemical measurements [hemoglobin, serum ferritin (SF), serum transferrin receptor (sTfR), C-reactive protein (CRP), alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP), serum retinol, serum vitamin B₁₂, serum folic acid, serum zinc, and urinary iodine (UI)] were measured at baseline and post-intervention. Hemoglobin was measured in all the children three times during the study period, while the remaining biochemical measurements were performed in a subsample of children. Children between 11 and 18 years of age were given cognitive tests to assess memory and attention. Results: There was a significant improvement (p<0.05) in all the biochemical measurements and memory tests in the experimental group when compared with the control group. Post-intervention in the experimental group, the increase in hemoglobin was 0.67 g/dL (p<0.05). Iron status and body iron stores increased significantly (p<0.05) in the experimental group compared to the control group, while serum zinc increased by 50 μg/dL (p<0.05), and the prevalence of retinol deficiency decreased from 57.1 % at baseline to 16 % post-intervention (p<0.05). Conclusion: The multiple micronutrients from the multiple micronutrient-fortified cooking salt were absorbed in the children and helped in combating micronutrient deficiencies.