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Handbook of Food Fortification and Health pp 395–410Cite as

Micronutrient Fortification of School Lunch Meals in Himalayan Villages

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Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

Abstract

Micronutrient deficiencies affect millions of schoolchildren in developing countries [1]. Anemia is by far the most widely prevalent and affects about 46 % of schoolchildren in low income countries, with the highest prevalence in South Asia (50 %) [1, 2]. Vitamin A deficiency (serum retinol < 0.7 μmol/L) also affects 23 % of South Asian schoolchildren [3]. Children with micronutrient deficiencies may experience retarded growth [4], reduced immune function [5], impaired motor and cognitive development [6], and poor school attendance, academic performance, and achievement [7].

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Abbreviations

CI:

Confidence interval

IQR:

Interquartile range

OR:

Odds ratio

RDA:

Recommended dietary allowance

RNI:

Recommended nutrient intake

SD:

Standard deviation

SEM:

Standard error of the mean

TBI:

Total body iron

UL:

Tolerable upper intake level

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Dr. Saraswati Bulusu, Tripti Pantajoshti, Anil Bhutani, and Dr. Rajesh Singh, for assistance with implementation of the intervention and data collection; and to Dr. Ujwala Godbole for laboratory analysis. We appreciate the inputs of Dr. Nevin Scrimshaw and Dr. Gary Gleason for their comments in improving the quality of this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Helen Keller International, Asia Pacific Regional Office, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

    Akoto K. Osei MS, PhD

  2. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Jaharis Building, Boston, MA, USA

    Irwin H. Rosenberg MD & Robert F. Houser PhD

  3. Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

    Minnie Mathews PhD

  4. Center for Global Health and Development and Department of International Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Crosstown Center, Boston University Medical Campus, Boston, MA, USA

    Davidson H. Hamer MD, FACP

Authors
  1. Akoto K. Osei MS, PhD
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  2. Irwin H. Rosenberg MD
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  3. Robert F. Houser PhD
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  4. Minnie Mathews PhD
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  5. Davidson H. Hamer MD, FACP
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Akoto K. Osei MS, PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences, School of Medicine, King's College London, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  2. University Hospital Lewisham, Department of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Kings College Hospital, London, SM68SU, United Kingdom

    Rajaventhan Srirajaskanthan

  3. Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, 115 New Cavendish Street, London, W1W 6UW, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

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Osei, A.K., Rosenberg, I.H., Houser, R.F., Mathews, M., Hamer, D.H. (2013). Micronutrient Fortification of School Lunch Meals in Himalayan Villages. In: Preedy, V., Srirajaskanthan, R., Patel, V. (eds) Handbook of Food Fortification and Health. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7110-3_31

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7110-3_31

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-7109-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-7110-3

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