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Interventions and public health nutrition

Effects of a large-scale micronutrient powder and young child feeding education program on the micronutrient status of children 6–24 months of age in the Kyrgyz Republic

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 67, pages 703–707 (2013)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

To combat iron and other micronutrient deficiencies, the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic launched a regional Infant and Young Child Nutrition (IYCN) program in 2009, which included promotion of home fortification with micronutrient powder (MNP) containing iron (12.5 mg elemental iron), vitamin A (300 μg) and other micronutrients. Every 2 months children aged 6–24 months were provided 30 sachets to be taken on a flexible schedule. The objective was to assess biochemical indicators of iron and vitamin A status among children aged 6–24 months at the baseline and follow-up surveys.

Subjects/Methods:

Cross-sectional representative cluster surveys were conducted in 2008 (n=571 children) and 2010 (n=541). Data collected included measurement of hemoglobin, serum ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), retinol-binding protein, C-reactive protein (CRP) and α1-glycoprotein acid (AGP).

Results:

Among all children, declines were observed in the prevalence of: anemia, 50.6% versus 43.8% (P=0.05); total iron deficiency (either low ferritin or high sTfR), 77.3% versus 63.7% (P<0.01); and iron deficiency anemia, 45.5% versus 33.4% (P<0.01). Among children without inflammation as measured by CRP and AGP, similar declines were observed, but only declines in total iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia reached statistical significance. Among all children and those without inflammation, the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency remained the same.

Conclusions:

One year after the introduction of home fortification with MNP, within a larger IYCN program, the prevalence of anemia, iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia declined, but vitamin A deficiency remained unchanged.

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Acknowledgements

Both surveys were administered under a cooperative agreement between UNICEF and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The surveys were carried out with support from the Central and Eastern Europe/Commonwealth of Independent States UNICEF regional office and the Swiss Red Cross. The collaborating partners included the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic (MOH), the National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic (NSC), the Talas Oblast Regional Statistics Department and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)-Kyrgyz Republic country office.

Disclaimer

The findings and conclusions of this report do not necessarily represent the official position of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Author information

Author notes

  1. G Samohleb, R Donnie Whitehead, U Mandava and K M Sullivan: Members of the Kyrgyz Republic Working Group are given in the Appendix.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, USA

    M K Serdula & N J Aburto

  2. Swiss Red Cross, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

    E Lundeen

  3. Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Nutrition and Health Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    E Lundeen

  4. Epidemic Intelligence Service assigned to the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

    E K Nichols

  5. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)-Kyrgyz Republic country office, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic

    C Imanalieva & M Minbaev

  6. Kyrgyz Republic Ministry of Health, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic

    T Mamyrbaeva

  7. UNICEF, New York, NY, USA

    A Timmer

Authors
  1. M K Serdula
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  2. E Lundeen
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Consortia

the Kyrgyz Republic Working Group

  • G Samohleb
  • , R Donnie Whitehead Jr
  • , U Mandava
  •  & K M Sullivan

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M K Serdula.

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Competing interests

The authors declares no conflict of interest.

Appendix

Appendix

The Kyrgyz Republic Working Group:

G Samohleb1, R Donnie Whitehead Jr2, U Mandava✠, KM Sullivan3,4

1Kyrgyz Republic Department of Statistics, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic; 2 Division of Laboratory Sciences, CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA; 3Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, USA; 4Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA ✠Deceased.

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Serdula, M., Lundeen, E., Nichols, E. et al. Effects of a large-scale micronutrient powder and young child feeding education program on the micronutrient status of children 6–24 months of age in the Kyrgyz Republic. Eur J Clin Nutr 67, 703–707 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2013.67

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