Effect of African Leafy Vegetables on Nutritional Status of South African School Children.

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The combination of poverty-related infectious and lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases, both driven by malnutrition, causes a high burden for South Africa. Healthy and nutritious diets for populations depend on availability and accessibility of a variety of plant and animal foods, within a context that promotes and supports healthy behaviour. Food based strategies, such as supplementation, food fortification, and diversification of crops, are used to achieve optimal dietary requirements to combat malnutrition, including micronutrient deficiencies. A more sustainable food based strategy is the (promotion of) use of indigenous and traditional foods, such as African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs). Unfortunately, several studies from all over Africa have shown that there is a shift from traditional diets as result of the preparing techniques and the absence of women in homes. Furthermore, indigenous and traditional foods are considered as poor people's food. Against this background, a joint project between South Africa, Kenya and Benin is designed to fill the gaps in knowledge in these countries regarding the availability, acceptability and consumption and evidenced based benefits of foods from local biodiversity. The main aim of the study in South Africa is to provide empirical evidence of how the role of biodiversity can be translated into improved health status in contemporary poor rural and urban communities in the North West Province of South Africa. In order to achieve this it is important to gain knowledge on the possibility of using ALVs as a strategy to alleviate micronutrient deficiencies. Therefore an intervention study to determine the effect of selected ALV on the nutritional status (including zinc, iron, and vitamin A status) of school children (grade R-4) residing in contemporary poor rural community in the North West Province, South Africa has been designed.

Official Title
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The Effect of African Leafy Vegetables on Nutritional Status (Including Iron, Zinc and Vitamin A Status) of School Children Residing in Semi-rural Farm Community in the North West Province of South Africa

Conditions
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Iron Status, Vitamin A Status, Zinc Status, Malnutrition

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: ALV


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: apparently healthy and had no signs and symptoms of acute illness at the time of baseline blood collection attending grade R - 4 of one of the selected schools Exclusion Criteria: Children with a haemoglobin concentration <8 g/dL were excluded from the study and referred for medical treatment. Children who received micronutrient supplements were also excluded from the study.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 6 Years
Maximum Age: 12 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Allocation: Randomized


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: ALV<br>300 gram cooked African leafy vegetables and school meal starch as daily school meal (5 days/weeks) for 3 months. Selected African leafy vegetables:Amaranthus cruentus (amaranth), Vigna unguiculata (cowpea), Cleome gynandra (spiderplant), and Cucurbita maxima (pumpkin). | Other: ALV<br>* Random allocation of children of two rural farm schools per grade to receive either 300 gram cooked ALVs and school meal starch or the normal school meal as daily meal (5 days/weeks) for 3 months.<br>|
| No Intervention: Control<br>normal school meal as daily meal (5 days/weeks) for 3 months | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in nutritional status of school children (nutritional status measured by: blood haemoglobin, serum ferritin, serum zinc and serum retinol) |  | three months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in nutritional status of school children (nutritional status measured by: height-for-age z-score, weight-for-age z-score and BMI-for-age z-score) |  | three months |