Micronutrient-fortified yogurt has positive impact on children in Bangladesh according to preliminary study results*

Between 2008 and 2011, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) funded a study conducted by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, to evaluate the impact of fortified yogurt on the nutritional status and cognitive performance of school-aged children in Bangladesh. The yogurt, produced by Grameen Danone Foods, was supplied during one year to school children aged 6 to 9 years in the town of Gabtali in Bogra District, where Grameen Danone Foods has a factory. Every day, the children were fed one cup (60g) of the fortified yogurt to help meet their daily vitamin A, iron, zinc and iodine requirements. The preliminary results are promising.

To find out more, GAIN spoke with Dr. Sunil Sazawal, Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, who was responsible for the study’s design, implementation and reporting.

GAIN: What are the study’s main findings?
SS: Preliminary findings*, which we  presented at the 2011 XI Asian Congress of Nutrition in Bangkok, Thailand, show that micronutrient-fortified yogurt had a positive impact on children’s growth rate in terms of height. Computerized tests also revealed improved capacity of children to concentrate and learn.

GAIN: Why are these findings significant for the global nutrition community?
SS: This trial is significant because the study not only measured impact on micronutrient deficiencies; it also measured impact on growth and cognitive performance of children.

GAIN: Why was the study successful?
SS: We had the time and the money to carry it out rigorously and thoroughly. It required lengthy processes including getting consent of many stakeholders, hiring and training staff to administer tests and collect data, and conducting all of the analyses.

GAIN: Any lessons learned?
SS: The major lesson learned is that without a long period of intervention and rigorous evaluation, you might miss impact and possibly draw wrong conclusions. It was an excellent decision to design the study over a longer timeframe (12 months rather than 6 months).

*Final, peer-reviewed results are expected to be released in 2012.

Reporting by Karie Atkinson, GAIN katkinson@gainhealth.org