Health-related assessment of a vitamin and mineral supplement in school age children
V.Korzun, S.Gpzak, A.Parats, V. Ivanov, A. Niedzwiecki, M. Rath
Journal of Cellular Medicine and Natural Health, June 2016
Abstract:
Objective: Study of the effect of a vitamin-mineral complex, Vitacor Junior, on children’s health, physical development and learning performance. Methods: Children attending the grammar school in the Zhytomyr region received one tablet daily of a vitamin-mineral complex with school meals (n = 69, the vitamin group) while children in the control group (n = 34) received only their regular school meals. Evaluation of the children was carried out before and after seven months of supplement intake.Results: After seven months, children in the vitamin group had improved functional status of their muscular and cardiac-respiratory systems and showed a decrease in the incidence and likelihood of acute forms of illnesses. Average level of acute morbidity was decreased by 25.5 % (from 1.83 ± 0.13 to 1.37 ± 0.13 incidents per year, t = 2.44; p < 0.05) compared to the similar index before taking the supplements. The reduction of the probability of two to four acute illnesses in the year was decreased by 2.83 % (RR = 2.83; 95 % CI 1.46-5.49; EF = 64.7 %). Functional status of the cardio-respiratory systems assessed by Skibinski index was improved by 28.2 % (from 5.82 ± 0.42 to 7.46 ± 0.57, t = 2.29; p < 0.05), and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate decreased from t = -3.64; p < 0.001 to t =-2.43; p < 0.05, respectively. Functional status of the muscular system based on the indicator of the strength of hand muscles was improved by 16.2 % (t = 2.15; p <0.05) and based on evaluation of the power index (χ2 = 16.33; p < 0.01). It is established that the proportion of children with low adaptation body reserve opportunities in the control group tends to increase (y = 18.2, x – 0.1), however in the vitamin group it tends to decrease (y = -7.2, x + 49.2).Conclusions: Daily intake of a vitamin-mineral complex contributed to the improvement of the health status of children and it should be recommended for use in children’s nutrition.