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Anemia and co-existing deficiencies of zinc, iron, iodine, and vitamin A occur among children in many developing countries including NE Thailand, probably contributing to impairments in growth, immune competence, and cognition. Sustainable strategies are urgently required to combat these deficiencies. We assessed the efficacy of a micronutrient-fortified seasoning powder served with a school lunch on reducing anemia and improving the micronutrient status of rural NE Thai children. Children (n = 569) aged 5.5-13.4y from 10 schools were randomly assigned to receive a seasoning powder either unfortified or fortified with zinc (5 mg), iron (5 mg), vitamin A (270 [micro]g), and iodine (50 [micro]g) (per serving) and incorporated into a school lunch prepared centrally and delivered 5 d/wk for 31 wk. Teachers monitored school lunch consumption. Baseline and final micronutrient status, hemoglobinopathies, and infection or inflammation were assessed from blood and urine samples. For the primary outcome, anemia (based on hemoglobin), no intervention effect was apparent (odds ratio: 1.02 95% CI: 0.69, 1.51) after adjustment for design strata. The odds of zinc (based on serum zinc) and urinary iodine deficiency in the fortified group were 0.63 (0.42, 0.94) and 0.52 (0.38, 0.71) times those in the unfortified group, respectively. Fortification had no effect on serum retinol (0.61: 0.25,1.51), ferritin (1.12: 0.43, 2.96), or mean red cell volume (1.16: 0.82, 1.64). Therefore, a micronutrient-fortified seasoning powder is a promising vehicle for improving zinc, iodine, and hemoglobin status, and its potential for incorporation into lunch programs in day care centers and schools in NE Thailand warrants investigation. KEY WORDS: * micronutrients * fortification * children * Thailand

The dietary-induced changes in the fatty acid composition of plasma, platelet, and erythrocyte lipids were measured as a function of time. Healthy adults consumed a diet rich in saturated fat (18% total energy, TE) for 19 d and then crossed over, without washout, to a diet rich in (n-6) polyunsaturated fat (10% TE) for a further 19 d. The fatty acid composition of plasma and blood cell lipids was measured in blood samples collected from fasting subjects on d 0, 1, 2, 5, 8, 12, and 19 of consuming the diet rich in (n-6) polyunsaturated fats. The linoleic acid composition of all plasma, platelet, and erythrocyte lipids increased to a plateau within 19 d, reaching at least 70% of maximum within 5 d. The maximum increase in linoleic acid composition of erythrocyte phosphatidylcholine was 3.8 mol% at d 12; the increase at d 1 was 2 mol% and at d 5 was 3.2 mol%. The decrease in pentadecanoic acid composition followed a similar time course in all lipids with the exception of plasma phospholipids. Our results show that the time course of dietary-induced changes in erythrocyte fatty acid composition is similar to that in plasma and platelet lipids. These results provide convincing, albeit indirect evidence that the exchange of fatty acids from plasma to erythrocytes and platelets is a major determinant of their membrane fatty acid composition. KEY WORDS: * fatty acids * erythrocytes * plasma * biomarker

A community-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted in the South Island of New Zealand to assess the dietary and biochemical selenium status of children (n = 136) and their mothers (n = 302), and to assess factors influencing selenium status. Serum and plasma samples from children and their mothers were analyzed for selenium using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Dietary selenium intakes were analyzed from 3-d weighed diet records, and food sources of selenium were quantified. Mean dietary selenium intakes in infants (6-11.9 mo), toddlers (12-24 mo), and mothers were below recommended levels. Toddlers had higher selenium intakes than infants (13.7 [+ or -] 8.4 and 7.9 [+ or -] 6.2 [micro]g/d, respectively, P = 0.0001) and the selenium density of their diets was also higher [3.2 [+ or -] 1.7 and 2.4 [+ or -] 1.7 [micro]g/(MJ * d), respectively, p 0.003]. Household smoking was associated with lower serum selenium concentrations in infants and toddlers (P = 0.02). South Island women who were currently pregnant had lower plasma selenium concentrations (0.74 [+ or -] 0.15 [micro]mol/L) than nonpregnant lactating and nonpregnant nonlactating women (0.94 [+ or -] 0.16 and 0.93 [+ or -] 0.16 [micro]mol/L, respectively, P = 0.0001). Clearly, pregnant women, infants and toddlers are at risk of suboptimal selenium status, and further research is warranted to assess potential effects in these groups. The finding of an association between household smoking and lower selenium concentrations in children should be investigated further. Dietary interventions are recommended to improve dietary selenium intakes in South Island children and their mothers. KEY WORDS: * selenium status * dietary selenium * children * infants * mothers * New Zealand