Effects of a food-based intervention on markers of micronutrient status among Indian women of low socio-economic status

Intakes of micronutrient-rich foods are low among Indian women of reproductive age. We investigated whether consumption of a food-based micronutrient-rich snack increased markers of blood micronutrient concentrations when compared with a control snack. Non-pregnant women (n 222) aged 14-35 years living in a Mumbai slum were randomised to receive a treatment snack (containing green leafy vegetables, dried fruit and whole milk powder), or a control snack containing foods of low micronutrient content such as wheat flour, potato and tapioca. The snacks were consumed under observation 6 d per week for 12 weeks, compliance was recorded, and blood was collected at 0 and 12 weeks. Food-frequency data were collected at both time points. Compliance (defined as the proportion of women who consumed >= 3 snacks/week) was >85% in both groups. We assessed the effects of group allocation on 12-week nutrient concentrations using ANCOVA models with respective 0-week concentrations, BMI, compliance, standard of living, fruit and green leafy vegetable consumption and use of synthetic nutrients as covariates. The treatment snack significantly increased beta-carotene concentrations (treatment effect: 47.1 nmol/l, 95% CI 6.5, 87.7). There was no effect of group allocation on concentrations of ferritin, retinol, ascorbate, folate or vitamin B-12. The present study shows that locally sourced foods can be made into acceptable snacks that may increase serum b-carotene concentrations among women of reproductive age. However, no increase in circulating concentrations of the other nutrients measured was observed.