Development and evaluating the biopotency of ready to eat liver meat balls in fighting anaemia and vitamin A deficiency, improving selected nutritional biochemical indicators and promoting the cognitive function among mildly anaemic Egyptian children aged 3–9 years

OBJECTIVE: Ready to eat fried liver meat balls (LMB) were developed to fight anaemia and vitamin A deficiency and promote cognitive function. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial consisting of two arms: control group with no supplement and LMB group receiving LMB supplement three times a week for 90 d. Criteria of evaluations included dietary assessment, anthropometric measurements, laboratory investigations and cognitive function by Wechsler test. SETTING: Kinder Garten and primary school in Urban Giza. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty boys and girls aging 3–9 years. RESULTS: The LMB supplement contributed to significant increases in the intakes of high bioavailable Fe and vitamin A in the diets of all children. Initial overall prevalence of mild and moderate anaemia was 43 %, which disappeared completely from all children aging < 72 months and from 88 % of children ≥ 72 months after the 90 d dietary intervention with the LMB. Faecal systemic immune globulin A, urinary hydroxyproline index and urinary iodine excretion increased significantly (P < 0·05) only after the dietary intervention with the LMB supplement for 90 d. The standard scores of verbal and non-verbal cognitive function tests (Δ day 90–day 0) increased significantly (P < 0·05) among the LMB group compared with the respective changes observed among the control group. The increase in height-for-age Z score and blood Hb were good predictors for improvement in cognitive function. CONCLUSION: LMB supplement is effective sustainable nutritious biotherapeutic food in fighting hidden hunger and promoting the cognitive function.