VO2 max improves in Indian school children after a feeding trail with iron biofortified pearl millet

Abstract

Objective: To examine the effects of an iron biofortified pearl millet intervention on physical performance in children, measured by VO2max. Methods: 135 children (11–18 y) were enrolled in a randomized trial of an iron biofortified pearl millet intervention (vs. control pearl millet), daily for a 6 month period in India. VO2max at baseline and end line was calculated from oxygen consumption and heart rate during a sub-maximal exercise test on a cycle ergometer. General linear models were used to evaluate the effect of the intervention on VO2max in children. Results: At baseline 32% of subjects were iron deficient with serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) values above 8.0 mg/L. The average VO2max at baseline was 36.9 mL/kg/min for girls. After six months, there was a significant relationship between decreasing sTfR (improved iron status) and increased VO2max in the iron biofortified pearl millet group, but not in control group (P Conclusions: Supplementation with iron biofortified pearl millet significantly improved VO2max in children