Efficacy of 'Thriposha' supplementation in improving the micronutrient status of preschool children.

INTRODUCTION The islandwide comprehensive supplementary feeding scheme, the 'Thriposha' programme has been in existence in the country for over three decades. However, its effectiveness in improving micronutrient status has not yet been evaluated. OBJECTIVE We examined the effects of 'Thriposha' on micronutrient status, assessed haematologically and biochemically, in young children. METHODS Preschool children (aged 3-5 years) from two well-baby clinics were grouped into interventional (n = 137) arm and control (n = 130) arm. Children in the interventional group were fed 'Thriposha' (50 g/day) while the control group of children was fed with 50 g 'Thriposha' made without mineral and vitamin premix, for a period of nine months. Serum calcium, ferritin, folate, freeT4, ceruloplasmin, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin D and haemoglobin (Hb) levels were measured before and one week after completing intervention. RESULTS The baseline Hb levels of the intervention and control groups were 113.20 (SD10.9) g/l and 112.30 (SD 9.0) g/l respectively. After the intervention, the interventional group showed a significant improvement (repeated measures ANOVA, p = 0.02) in the Hb (mean of 118.10 (7.7) vs. 114.70 (7.0) g/l of the control). The prevalence of anaemia dropped from 37% to 15% in the intervention group (p = 0.03). Serum ferritin and ceruloplasmin levels also improved. CONCLUSION Regular consumption of conventional 'Thriposha' for 9 months led to improvements in Hb, ferritin and ceruloplasmin levels in the blood.