Iron-biofortified pearl millet consumption increases physical activity in Indian adolescent schoolchildren after a 6-month randomised feeding trial. Issue 7 (14th April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pompano, Laura M.; Luna, Sarah V.; Udipi, Shobha A.; Ghugre, Padmini S.; Przybyszewski, Eric M.; Haas, Jere
• Is Part Of: British journal of nutrition. Volume 127:Issue 7(2022)
• Page Start: 1018
• Page End: 1025
• Publication Date: 2022-04-14
• Subjects: Adolescent health -- Iron deficiency -- Physical activity -- Accelerometry -- Iron biofortification -- Pearl millet -- Sedentary behaviour; Nutrition -- Periodicals; 572.4
• DOI: 10.1017/S000711452100180X
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1145

Abstract

Abstract: Fe deficiency has negative effects on voluntary physical activity (PA); however, the impact of consuming Fe-biofortified staple foods on voluntary PA remains unclear. This study compared the effects of consuming Fe-biofortified pearl millet or a conventional pearl millet on measures of voluntary PA in Indian schoolchildren (ages 12–16 years) during a 6-month randomised controlled feeding trial. PA data were collected from 130 children using Actigraph GT3X accelerometers for 6 d at baseline and endline. Minutes spent in light and in moderate-to-vigorous PA were calculated from accelerometer counts using Crouter's refined two-regression model for children. Mixed regression models adjusting for covariates were used to assess relationships between intervention treatment or change in Fe status and PA. Children who consumed Fe-biofortified pearl millet performed 22·3 (95 % CI 1·8, 42·8, P = 0·034) more minutes of light PA each day compared with conventional pearl millet. There was no effect of treatment on moderate-to-vigorous PA. The amount of Fe consumed from pearl millet was related to minutes spent in light PA (estimate 3·4 min/mg Fe (95 % CI 0·3, 6·5, P = 0·031)) and inversely related to daily sedentary minutes (estimate −5·4 min/mg Fe (95 % CI –9·9, −0·9, P = 0·020)). Consuming Fe-biofortified pearl millet increased light PA and decreased sedentary time in Indian schoolchildren in a dose-dependent manner.