Effect of B Vitamins-fortified Foods on Primary School Children in Beijing

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of B vitamins-fortified foods on primary school children. A controlled trial was conducted in 101 normal primary school children aged 9-11 years. They were randomly assigned to supplemental control group (S-control, n=36), riboflavin supplementation group (+riboflavin 0.625 mg/day, n=32), and B vitamin compound supplementation group (+riboflavin 0.625 mg/day, +thiamin 0.512 mg/day, +nicotinic acid 0.365 mg/day, +folic acid 0.13 mg/day, n=33) based on school classes. Urinary riboflavin excretion and erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient (EGRAC) along with erythrocyte transketolase activity (ETKA) were used to evaluate B vitamin levels in the children. AYP index, an index reflecting the brain performance ability, was chosen to assess the children's study abilities. Health education was carried out to help children and their parents adopt scientific dietary concepts. The urinary riboflavin excretion was higher in two supplementation groups (435.24 +/- 153.3 microg/g creatinine, 374.6 +/- 144.6 microg/g creatinine) than in S-control group (235.1 +/- 86.2 microg/g creatinine). Average values of EGRAC were lower in two supplementation groups (0.90 +/- 0.11, 0.80 +/- 0.10) than in S-control group (1.08 +/- 0.25). At the same time, the percentage of thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP%) decreased from 63.69 +/- 28.04 to 42.16 +/- 16.31 in B vitamin compound supplementation group. Meanwhile, AYP index increased at the end of the supplementation in two supplementation groups. B vitamins supplementation can significantly increase B vitamin level in children. Biochemical activities of riboflavin and thiamin can improve with the intake of fortified foods. The effect of B vitamin compound supplementation is better than that of single riboflavin supplementation when the effect of riboflavin's biofunction is considered. In addition, micronutrient supplementation appears to assist children's study abilities.