The effect of zinc-biofortified rice on zinc status of Bangladeshi preschool children: a randomized, double-masked, household-based, controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Zinc biofortification of rice could sustainably improve zinc status in countries where zinc deficiency is common and rice is a staple, but its efficacy has not been tested. Fatty acid desaturases (FADS) are putative new zinc status biomarkers.

Objectives

Our objective was to test the efficacy of zinc-biofortified rice (BFR) in preschool-aged children with zinc deficiency. Our hypothesis was that consumption of BFR would increase plasma zinc concentration (PZC).

Methods

We conducted a 9-mo, double-masked intervention trial in 12-36-mo-old rural Bangladeshi children, most of whom were zinc-deficient (PZC <70 µg/dL) and stunted (n = 520). The children were randomly assigned to receive either control rice (CR) or BFR provided in cooked portions to their househo

SUBMITTER: Jongstra R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8895213 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature