Use of specific micronutrients intervention for treatment of malnutrition.

This report presents data obtained from a field study of the effects on the nutritional status of kindergarten children by providing either breakfast and lunch (BL Groups) or specific micronutrients in a fruitflavored drink (NC Groups) and two corresponding control groups. Some change in the nutritional status was observed in all four groups. In the BL Groups there was a change in the distribution of values, which resulted in a larger percentage of the children being moved into the acceptable ranges for hemoglobin, hematocrits, and serum iron at the conclusion of the experiment. The BL Control Group showed significant changes over the BL Group in several measures. The providing of micronutrients to the NC Group caused significant improvement over its control for the distribution of serum folacin, serum iron, and transferrin saturation. There was an increase noted in all groups for Vitamin A, with no significant difference between treatment and control groups. Paradoxically the serum nonessential to essential amino acid ratio increased in both the BL and NC Groups without a concomitant change in either of the control groups.