A Sen1, S J Kanani. 1. Department of Foods and Nutrition, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, India.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To assess impact of daily and intermittent iron-folate (IFA) supplementation on physical work capacity of underprivileged schoolgirls in Vadodara. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Municipal Primary schools. PARTICIPANTS: Schoolgirls (n=163) in the age group of 9-13 years. INTERVENTION: Three randomly selected schools were given IFA tablets (100 mg elemental iron + 0.5 mg folic acid) either once weekly or twice weekly or daily for one year. The fourth was the control school. OUTCOME MEASURES: Hemoglobin, modified Harvards Step test for physical work capacity. RESULTS: All three IFA supplemented groups showed significant improvement in number of steps climbed and recovery time compared to controls; with impact being relatively better in girls with higher Hb gain (> 1 g/dL) vs. lower Hb gain. Similarly, higher the frequency of dosing better was the impact- it being the best in daily IFA group. Twice weekly IFA was as good as daily IFA under conditions of good compliance. CONCLUSION: Twice weekly IFA supplementation is comparable to daily IFA in terms of beneficial effects on physical work capacity in young girls.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: To assess impact of daily and intermittent iron-folate (IFA) supplementation on physical work capacity of underprivileged schoolgirls in Vadodara. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Municipal Primary schools. PARTICIPANTS: Schoolgirls (n=163) in the age group of 9-13 years. INTERVENTION: Three randomly selected schools were given IFA tablets (100 mg elemental iron + 0.5 mg folic acid) either once weekly or twice weekly or daily for one year. The fourth was the control school. OUTCOME MEASURES: Hemoglobin, modified Harvards Step test for physical work capacity. RESULTS: All three IFA supplemented groups showed significant improvement in number of steps climbed and recovery time compared to controls; with impact being relatively better in girls with higher Hb gain (> 1 g/dL) vs. lower Hb gain. Similarly, higher the frequency of dosing better was the impact- it being the best in daily IFA group. Twice weekly IFA was as good as daily IFA under conditions of good compliance. CONCLUSION: Twice weekly IFA supplementation is comparable to daily IFA in terms of beneficial effects on physical work capacity in young girls.
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