Effects Of Supplemental Animal Source Foods On Diet And Blood Markers Of Micronutrient Status Among Reproductive-Age Women In Rural Vietnam

Our objective was to determine the effects of daily mid‐morning supplemental animal source foods (ASF) on usual diets and blood markers of iron, zinc, vitamin A and B 12 status among reproductive age women in rural Vietnam. 117 non‐pregnant women 18 to 30 years old consented to participate, and were randomized to receive either daily ASF (median 144 kcal, 9 mg iron, 3.3 mg zinc, 1000 μg RAE vitamin A, 7 μg vitamin B 12 and 20 g protein/supplement) or a control snack composed primarily of tofu (median 149 kcal, 0.9 mg iron, 0.8 mg zinc, 0 μg RAE vitamin A, 0 μg vitamin B 12 and 8 g protein/supplement) 5 days/wk for 6 months. Usual diets were determined by random, non‐consecutive repeated 24‐hr recalls at baseline, 3, and 6 months (10 recalls per participant). No displacing effect on usual diet was observed. Based on diet, 24% were at risk for deficiency of iron, 32% for vitamin A, 54% for zinc, and 88% for B 12 . Initially, anemia was found in 15% of the women and 81% had low levels of plasma zinc. None of these women had low blood levels of vitamin A of B 12 . After 6 months of ASF supplementation, hemoglobin increased significantly (p < 0.01), but no significant changes were observed in plasma zinc, vitamin A or serum B 12 .