Efficacy of Double Fortified Salt (DFS) to Improve Work Productivity in Women in India

Summary

The main objective of the present study is to assess the impact of double fortified salt containing iron and iodine on work performance (productivity) of women plantation workers in India. Efficacy studies have shown that salt double-fortified with iodine and iron can significantly reduce the incidence rates of iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) and iodine-deficiency disorders. Double-fortified salt (DFS) can be prepared by mixing microencapsulated iron compounds into conventionally iodated salt (Yuan et al, 2008). Iron deficiency anemia affects the work productivity and physical activity. Many studies have shown that when the individuals with low Hb received iron supplement, their work performance improved markedly. Animal studies have demonstrated that iron deficient anemic rats had a lower work tolerance as measured by oxygen consumption than the adult rats with normal Hb levels (Ohira et al, 1981). Several human studies have demonstrated the effect of iron supplementation on endurance capacity and work productivity in women (Zhu and Haas, 1997, 1998; Edgerton et al., 1979). Many human studies have also examined the possible linkages between iron deficiency and concurrent cognitive or behavioral outcomes. Iron supplementation effective in reducing iron-deficiency anemia would also result in better behavioral and developmental outcome. Many studies found that IDA had a great influence on cognitive functions in infants and school children (Lozoff et al., 2003, 1998 and Friel et al., 2003). However, studies of IDA and cognitive function in adults are few and controversial.

This study will assess iron status and physical and mental performance at 2 time points, before and after approximately 10 months during which a controlled intervention will take place on tea estates at the Panighatta Tea Garden near Siliguri, West Bengal. Subjects will be women between 18 and 50 years of age who are actively employed as full time tea pickers. The study requires that 2 experimental groups of subjects be identified: a) an experimental group that consumes double fortified salt (DFS) containing iron + iodine, and b) a control group that consumes only iodized salt (IS).

Conditions

• Anemia
• Iron Deficiency

Interventions

OTHER

double fortified salt

Refined salt of particle size \< 1 mm iodized with potassium iodate (KIO3) at a concentration of 30 µg I/g salt at the factory will be purchased and blended with encapsulated Ferrous Fumarate premix containing 15% iron. Premix to salt ratio of 1 to 150 will be used to arrive at 1000 ppm elemental iron in the final product.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• McGill University

  collaborator OTHER

• Cornell University

  collaborator OTHER

• The Mathile Institute for the Advancement of Human Nutrition

  collaborator OTHER

• Micronutrient Initiative

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Grace Marquis, PhD · McGill University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

50 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2009-05-31

Primary Completion

2010-09-30

Completion

2010-09-30

Countries

• India