Abstract
Micronutrient supplementation is one approach that could correct the child impairment of development caused by micronutrient deficiencies. However micronutrient deficiencies in developing countries usually associated with marginal deficiency of several micronutrients. Therefore, it was assumed that supplementation with multiple micronutrients would be more effective.
In the previous Indonesia study, a randomized placebo controlled trial study has been done in 17 villages of Magelang district, Central Java for 6 mo among children aged 6-12 mo (n=284) who randomly assigned into four experimental groups: 1 RDA daily multi-micronutrient, 2 RDA weekly multi-micronutrient, iron daily supplementation and a placebo group. Nutritional status, development, and hemoglobin concentration was no difference between treatment groups at the end of supplementation. To answer the possibility of age responsiveness and manifestation of treatment effect on development and nutritional status, this present follow up study has been done at 6-mo after supplementation commenced when children aged 18-24 mo. At 6-mo follow up, there was difference between group in height for age Z-score and psychomotor development index (PDI). The scores differences are may be due to treatment differences.
