Fortified milk consumption among 6-year old children: changes in biochemical markers of trace minerals and vitamins

Micronutrient fortification of commonly consumed foods remains to be both a practical and a sustainable option to fight malnutrition. This paper determined the changes in biochemical markers of vitamins and minerals after fortified milk consumption among 6-year-old school children. A total of 141 school children were grouped based on their fluid consumption: one group consumed water; the other consumed 1-glass of milk; and the last group consumed 2-glasses of milk. Blood and urine samples were analyzed for hemoglobin, serum ferritin, serum zinc, serum vitamins A, C, and D. The hemoglobin concentration of study participants was borderline anemic (11.5 - 11.6 mg/dL) at baseline and significantly increased at midline for the 2-glassess group (p < 0.05). Serum ferritin and vitamin A were within the normal values at baseline and endline. A significant increase was observed for serum zinc in children fed with 1-glass and 2-glasses (p < 0.05). All children were vitamin C deficient at baseline (0.2 - 0.3 mg/dL), and attained normalcy, at endline. No vitamin D deficiency was observed among study participants at baseline but a significant increase was observed at endline within acceptable levels. Fortified milk supplementation among 6-year-old school children is effective for significant changes in hemoglobin and serum zinc and is more pronounced at 2-glasses/day.