Publication: Impact of food rations and supplements on micronutrient status by trimester of pregnancy: Cross-sectional studies in the maela refugee camp in Thailand
Issued Date
2016-01-26
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ISSN
20726643
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2-s2.0-84957109020
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Mahidol University
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SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Nutrients. Vol.8, No.2 (2016)
Suggested Citation
Wolfgang Stuetz, Verena I. Carrara, Rose McGready, Sue J. Lee, Kanlaya Sriprawat, Basi Po, Borimas Hanboonkunupakarn, Tilman Grune, Hans K. Biesalski, François H. Nosten Impact of food rations and supplements on micronutrient status by trimester of pregnancy: Cross-sectional studies in the maela refugee camp in Thailand. Nutrients. Vol.8, No.2 (2016). doi:10.3390/nu8020066 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/41759
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Title
Impact of food rations and supplements on micronutrient status by trimester of pregnancy: Cross-sectional studies in the maela refugee camp in Thailand
Abstract
© 2016 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Micronutrient fortified flour (MFF), supplementary food rations and micronutrient (MN) supplements may prevent deficiencies among pregnant women. Objectives of cross-sectional surveys in 2004 (n = 533) and 2006 (n = 515) were to assess the impact of new food rations (flour, oil) and supplements on MN status by trimester of pregnancy in the Maela refugee camp. Hemoglobin, iron status, zinc, retinol, β-carotene and tryptophan decreased, while α-/γ-tocopherol and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) increased from first to third trimester. In 2006, mean zinc and α-tocopherol for each trimester was significantly higher than in 2004. The weeks of supplemented thiamine and folic acid were positively correlated with thiamine diphosphate (TDP) and 5-MTHF, but not for ferrous sulfate as iron deficiency was observed in 38.5% of third-trimester women. Frequent consumption of fish paste and owning a garden or animal were associated with significantly higher iron status, retinol, β-carotene, and 5-MTHF. In conclusion, MFF and supplementary oil were most likely to explain improved zinc and α-tocopherol status, while thiamine and folate supplements ensured high TDP and 5-MTHF in late pregnancy. MN supplements, MN-rich staple food, small gardens, and programs to improve iron compliance are promising strategies to prevent MN deficiencies during pregnancy in vulnerable populations.