Vitamin A and iron status of women and children in urban Cameroon before and after introduction of vitamin A-fortified vegetable oil and iron-fortified wheat flour (804.18)

Few data are available on the effectiveness of mass food fortification programs. We conducted representative surveys 2 y before and 1 y after introduction of vitamin A (VA)-fortified cooking oil and iron-fortified wheat flour to assess program impact on VA and iron status in urban Cameroon. In each survey, 10 different households were selected within each of the same 30 clusters (n=~300/survey). Malaria and plasma indicators of inflammation (CRP, AGP) and VA (retinol-binding protein, pRBP) and iron (ferritin, pF; soluble transferrin receptor, sTfR) status were assessed among women 15-49 y and children 12-59 mo. Staple food intake was measured by FFQ, and post-fortification oil and flour samples were collected. Pre-fortification, low inflammation-adjusted pRBP was common among children (33% 20% of women and children had low adjusted pF. Oil and flour were each consumed by >80% of participants in the past week. Post-fortification, 44% of oil and 76% of flo...