Tran T. NgaPattanee WinichagoonMarjoleine A. DijkhuizenNguyen C. KhanEmorn WasantwisutFrank T. WieringaNational Institute of Nutrition VietnamMahidol UniversityKobenhavns UniversitetIRD Centre de Montpellier2018-05-032018-05-032011-08-01American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Vol.85, No.2 (2011), 333-340000296372-s2.0-80051510926https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/12017Micronutrient deficiencies are associated with impaired growth and cognitive function. A school-based fortification program might benefit schoolchildren but a high prevalence of parasite infestation might affect effectiveness. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 2 x 2 factorial trial was conducted to assess the efficacy of multi-micronutrient fortified biscuits with or without de-worming on growth, cognitive function, and parasite load in Vietnamese schoolchildren. Schoolchildren (n = 510), 6-8 years of age were randomly allocated to receive albendazole or placebo at baseline and four months of multi-micronutrient fortified biscuits (FB) or non-fortified biscuits. Children receiving FB for four months scored higher on two cognitive tests: Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices and the Digit Span Forward test. Children receiving albendazole plus FB had the lowest parasite load after four months. In children receiving FB, mid-upper arm circumference was slightly improved (+0.082 cm) but there were no differences in other indexes of anthropometry. Combining multi-micronutrient fortified biscuits with de-worming is an effective strategy. Copyright © 2011 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.Mahidol UniversityImmunology and MicrobiologyMedicineArticleSCOPUS10.4269/ajtmh.2011.10-0651