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van Stuijvenberg, M.E. et al.

van Stuijvenberg, Dhansay, Lombard, Faber, Benadé,

The effect of a biscuit with red palm oil as a source of beta-carotene on the vitamin A status of primary school children: a comparison with beta-carotene from a synthetic source in a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a biscuit with red palm oil as a source of beta-carotene on the vitamin A status of primary school children and to compare this with the effect of a biscuit with beta-carotene from a synthetic source. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: A rural community in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. SUBJECTS: A total of 437 primary school children, aged 5--11 y; 400 completed the study. INTERVENTION: Subjects were randomly assigned to one of three groups, receiving, respectively: (i) a placebo biscuit; (ii) a biscuit with synthetic beta-carotene as a vitamin A fortificant (SB); (iii) a biscuit with red palm oil as a source of beta-carotene (PB); SB and PB supplied 30% of the RDA for vitamin A per serving of three biscuits. Biscuits were distributed daily during the school week; vitamin A status was assessed at baseline and after 3 months. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in serum retinol compared to the control group in both the SB and PB groups (P<0.005); the treatment effect for the two groups was equivalent (difference in treatment effect 0.62 microg/dl, with a 90% CI -0.33--1.57). CONCLUSIONS: A biscuit with red palm oil as a source of beta-carotene is as effective as a biscuit with synthetic beta-carotene in improving the vitamin A status of primary school children. The additional qualities of red palm oil (ie no trans fatty acids; rich source of antioxidants) make it an excellent alternative fortificant for addressing vitamin A deficiency.[1]

References

The effect of a biscuit with red palm oil as a source of beta-carotene on the vitamin A status of primary school children: a comparison with beta-carotene from a synthetic source in a randomised controlled trial. van Stuijvenberg, M.E., Dhansay, M.A., Lombard, C.J., Faber, M., Benadé, A.J. European journal of clinical nutrition. (2001) [Pubmed]

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