Corn fortification, a field demonstration model; annual report, 1972/1973

THE PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT IS TO MAKE FORTIFIED CORN FLOUR FOR USE IN TORTILLAS, PERSUADE THE VILLAGERS TO USE THIS FLOUR, AND ASSESS THE NUTRITIONAL EFFECTS OF ITS USE BY MONITORING CERTAIN HEALTH CHARACTERISTICS OF FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN USING THE FORTIFIED FLOUR AND THOSE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN USING IT. WHAT THE CORN FLOUR IS FORTIFIED WITH IS NOT STATED. HOWEVER, THE FORTIFIED AND NON-FORTIFIED TORTILLAS ARE BEING RANDOMLY SAMPLED EACH MONTH AND ANALYZED TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH PROTEIN, TOTAL FREE LYSIN, AND NITROGEN THEY CONTAIN. THE FORTIFIED TORTILLAS ARE REPORTED TO CONTAIN 10.5 GRAMS OF PROTEIN AND 497.8 MG PERCENT OF FREE LYSIN, COMPARED TO 8.4 GRAMS OF PROTEIN AND 139.5 MG PERCENT OF FREE LYSIN IN THE NON-FORTIFIED TORTILLAS. MANY VILLAGE FAMILIES ARE RELUCTANT TO USE THE FORTIFIED CORN FLOUR. AFTER 73 WEEKS OF THE FORTIFICATION PROGRAM, ABOUT 40% OF THE FAMILIES ARE USING IT, AND 45% ARE NOT COLLABORATING AT ALL. (THE OTHER 5% ARE EVIDENTLY CONFIRMED VACCILLATORS.) THE MEASUREMENT OF EFFECTS OF THE FORTIFIED CORN FLOUR IS FOCUSED ON PREGNANT WOMEN, NEWBORN INFANTS, AND SMALL CHILDREN. NEWBORN INFANTS OF MOTHERS WITH GOOD CONSUMPTION OF FORTIFIED TORTILLAS HAVE AVERAGED 200 GRAMS MORE IN WEIGHT. WORK IS ALSO PROCEEDING IN A STUDY OF THE ANTHROPOMETRY AND MORTALITY IN THE CONTROL VILLAGE OF SANTO DOMINGO XENACOJ.