Pre-school and School Children
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NCP's work in the area of pre-school and schoolchildren nutrition has focused primarily on reducing micronutrient deficiency.
Micronutrient research NCP has a long history of collaboration with Tufts University in Massachusetts in studying the vitamin A status of children, using deuterated retinol methods. Currently we are pioneering a new study on the effects of micronutrient powder (MNP) on iodine levels in children. We expect this study will inform us on the adequate levels of iodine in MNP, in the context of an ongoing Universal Salt Iodization Program. Anemia affects pre-school and school children Between 2003 and 2004, NCP studied the determinants of anemia among school children and proposed a mechanism for weekly iron supplementation resulting in a 50% reduction in anemia in participating schools. Vitamin fortified bread in schools Through one of our nutrition intervention programs, Nutri-pan sa Eskwelahan, NCP provides technical assistance to schools looking to establish bakeries on site as part of their feeding programs. |
A pre-school aged boy from Tabogon plays outside the Health Clinic during one of NCP's micronutrient distributions, in Cebu, April 2015.
Micronutrient supplementation can reduce a child's risk of mortality by 23 to 34%.
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Research and Programs on Pre-School and School Children
Clinical Trial on Efficacy of Micronutrient Powders on Urinary Iodine Levels of Pre-School Children in Benguet Province, Philippines.
We are currently comparing urinary iodine excretion (UIE) of preschool children taking a 15 micronutrient powder (MNP) including iodine at 90 ug, versus a placebo.
No study has been conducted to describe the effects of micronutrient powders on the iodine levels of children.
This study is currently recruiting participants.
We are currently comparing urinary iodine excretion (UIE) of preschool children taking a 15 micronutrient powder (MNP) including iodine at 90 ug, versus a placebo.
No study has been conducted to describe the effects of micronutrient powders on the iodine levels of children.
This study is currently recruiting participants.
Vitamin A studies in rural Philippine communities
Since 1995, NCP has collaborated with Dr. Judy Ribaya-Mercado, a Filipino scientist with Tufts University, Massachusetts, on a series of studies to characterize vitamin A stores and changes to vitamin A stores in the body.
Most of these studies were conducted among children and contributed to the DRD method (deuterated-retinol-dilution) becoming the international standard in biochemical assessment of vitamin A stores in the body.
These studies tested the whether a diet including locally available fruits and vegetables, high in provitamin A carotenoids, can increase the vitamin A levels in malnourished schoolchildren, and the what impact dietary fat has on the bioconversion of provitamin A carotenoids into vitamin A.
These studies showed:
1. Carotene-rich yellow and green leafy vegetables, when ingested with minimal fat, enhance serum carotenoids and the total-body vitamin A pool size. They can also restore low liver vitamin A concentrations to normal levels.
2. Filipino school-aged children with low circulating concentrations of carotenoids, tocopherols and retinol, was attributable to poor dietary intake. The concentration of some carotenoids and tocopherols were inversely correlated with BMI among girls.
3. Carotene-rich yellow and green leafy vegetables improve vitamin A status and reduce anemia.
Since 1995, NCP has collaborated with Dr. Judy Ribaya-Mercado, a Filipino scientist with Tufts University, Massachusetts, on a series of studies to characterize vitamin A stores and changes to vitamin A stores in the body.
Most of these studies were conducted among children and contributed to the DRD method (deuterated-retinol-dilution) becoming the international standard in biochemical assessment of vitamin A stores in the body.
These studies tested the whether a diet including locally available fruits and vegetables, high in provitamin A carotenoids, can increase the vitamin A levels in malnourished schoolchildren, and the what impact dietary fat has on the bioconversion of provitamin A carotenoids into vitamin A.
These studies showed:
1. Carotene-rich yellow and green leafy vegetables, when ingested with minimal fat, enhance serum carotenoids and the total-body vitamin A pool size. They can also restore low liver vitamin A concentrations to normal levels.
2. Filipino school-aged children with low circulating concentrations of carotenoids, tocopherols and retinol, was attributable to poor dietary intake. The concentration of some carotenoids and tocopherols were inversely correlated with BMI among girls.
3. Carotene-rich yellow and green leafy vegetables improve vitamin A status and reduce anemia.
Determinants of Anemia among Pre-School Children
NCP wanted to find out what factors best predicted anemia among pre-school Filipino children.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2090 preschool children from eight rural villages in Cebu (an area where there was no malaria and soil-transmitted helminthiases was of light intensity).
The study, published in 2008, found:
1.Anemia was prevalent in 16% of participants and iron-deficiency in 31%.
2. Increasing intake improved Hb concentration.
3. In the multiple regression, however, only the index for bioavailable iron and vitamin C intakes remained independent factors.
NCP wanted to find out what factors best predicted anemia among pre-school Filipino children.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2090 preschool children from eight rural villages in Cebu (an area where there was no malaria and soil-transmitted helminthiases was of light intensity).
The study, published in 2008, found:
1.Anemia was prevalent in 16% of participants and iron-deficiency in 31%.
2. Increasing intake improved Hb concentration.
3. In the multiple regression, however, only the index for bioavailable iron and vitamin C intakes remained independent factors.
Effect of Weekly Iron Supplementation on Anemia
NCP evaluated the effect of weekly school-based iron supplementation among anemic children in the Philippines, in an effort to provide further evidence for future strategies in reducing anemia.
The study, conducted between 2004 - 2004, had pre-test and post-test study design. More than 240 anemic schoolchildren were enrolled in the program and given iron-folate tablets containing 60 mg elemental iron and 0.40 mg folic acid, weekly for 27 weeks.
Supplementation was directly observed and recorded by the teachers.
The study found:
1. The mean Hb concentration was increased by 0.4 g/dL.
2. The majority (84 % ) of the participants had 100% compliance to supplementation.
3. Anemia prevalence was reduced by 54%.
NCP evaluated the effect of weekly school-based iron supplementation among anemic children in the Philippines, in an effort to provide further evidence for future strategies in reducing anemia.
The study, conducted between 2004 - 2004, had pre-test and post-test study design. More than 240 anemic schoolchildren were enrolled in the program and given iron-folate tablets containing 60 mg elemental iron and 0.40 mg folic acid, weekly for 27 weeks.
Supplementation was directly observed and recorded by the teachers.
The study found:
1. The mean Hb concentration was increased by 0.4 g/dL.
2. The majority (84 % ) of the participants had 100% compliance to supplementation.
3. Anemia prevalence was reduced by 54%.
