Impact of Red Palm Oil in School Meals on Vitamin A Status in Burkina Faso
Author Information
Author(s): Zeba Augustin N, Prével Yves Martin, Somé Issa T, Delisle Hélène F
Primary Institution: Université de Montréal
Hypothesis
Does adding red palm oil to school meals improve vitamin A status in children?
Conclusion
Regularly giving red palm oil in small amounts is very effective in reducing vitamin A deficiency in school children.
Supporting Evidence
- Serum retinol levels increased significantly in both intervention areas after the addition of red palm oil to meals.
- The rate of low serum retinol decreased from 47.2% to 13.1% in Kaya and from 46.1% to 17.1% in Bogandé.
- Children who were initially vitamin A deficient showed the most improvement in serum retinol levels.
Takeaway
Adding red palm oil to school lunches helps kids get more vitamin A, which is good for their health.
Methodology
15 ml of red palm oil was added to school meals 3 times a week for one school year, and serum retinol levels were measured before and after the intervention.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the selection of schools and participants.
Limitations
The study only included selected schools and may not represent all children in Burkina Faso.
Participant Demographics
Children aged 84 to 144 months from selected primary schools in Kaya and Bogandé, Burkina Faso.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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