Several studies have demonstrated that supplementation with micronutrients (MNs) or n-3 fatty acids offer health benefits such as reduced illness in school children. This particular study was conducted to determine the effect of a combination of two different doses of micronutrients and n-3 fatty acids on incidence of diseases in school children.
Foods fortified with either high (100% recommended dietary allowance) or low (15% recommended dietary allowance) MN, combined with either high (900 mg r-linolenic acid (ALA) plus 100 mg docosahexaenoic acid) or low (140 mg ALA) n-3 fatty acids for 1 year.
Compared to children receiving low n-3 fatty acid intervention; children consuming high n-3 fatty acids had significantly fewer episodes of URTI/child/year (relative risk (RR) =0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.79, 0.97) (see Fig.1).
Children consuming high n-3 fatty acids had significantly shorter duration/episode of URTI (RR=0.81, 95% CI: 0.78, 0.85), LRTI (RR=0.91, 95% CI: 0.85, 0.97), GI complaints (RR=0.79, 95% CI: 0.74, 0.85) and general symptoms (RR=0.90, 95% CI: 0.82, 0.98).
The duration of general symptoms was significantly reduced in children who received high micronutrients.
High dose of n-3 fatty acids, including 900mg ALA and 100mg DHA reduces the duration of diseases and the incidence of URTI compared with a low dose of n-3 fatty acids of 140mg ALA in school children.
Thomas T, Eilander A, Muthayya S, et al. The effect of a 1-year multiple micronutrient or n-3 fatty acid fortified food intervention on morbidity in Indian school children. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2012;66(4):452-8.
