Nutritional efficacy of a fortified weaning rusk in a rural area near Beijing.

A micronutrient-fortified rusk for weanling children was tested in a rural area near Beijing. Two hundred twenty-six children aged 6-13 mo were randomly assigned by village to either a micronutrient-fortified or an unfortified rusk, daily for 3 mo. The fortified rusk contained extra zinc; iron; calcium; vitamins A, D, and B-12; thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and folic acid. Infants receiving the fortified rusk exhibited no decline in hemoglobin concentrations during the study whereas those receiving the unfortified rusk exhibited a significant decline. Improvements were also seen in erythrocyte porphyrin, plasma vitamin A, and riboflavin status, but these improvements were seen in both of the groups. Micronutrient fortification was probably beneficial for iron status and the fortified rusk promises to be an effective vehicle for supplementation.