{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,1]],"date-time":"2026-04-01T06:42:06Z","timestamp":1775025726770,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,1]],"date-time":"2026-04-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1775001600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Staple food fortification is a globally recognized method for reducing micronutrient deficiencies. India started its food fortification journey in the 1950\u2019s with the fortification of Vanaspati. Over the years, several food vehicles, such as double fortified salt, oil, wheat flour, and rice, have been studied. Based on the mixed results observed, the Government of India launched the Central pilot scheme on \u201cFortification of rice and its distribution under the public distribution system\u201d in 2019. This scheme was launched across 15 districts of India. The major aim of this study was to assess the impact of routine consumption of fortified rice distributed via the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) on haemoglobin, ferritin, folate and vitamin B\n                      <jats:sub>12<\/jats:sub>\n                      levels.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      A simple random sampling method was used to enroll 452 women of reproductive age. Using a purposive sampling technique and inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 167 WRA were enrolled for the intervention phase. Fortified rice procured from the Targeted public distribution system was monitored for a period of 6\u202fmonths and 1\u202fyear. Micronutrient level was found to be as per the FSSAI, 2018 regulations (Iron, 40.13\u202fmg; Folate, 93.66 \u00b5g; and Vitamin B\n                      <jats:sub>12<\/jats:sub>\n                      , 0.89 \u00b5g per kg of fortified rice).\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      It was found that fortified rice intervention helped in improving hemoglobin levels (capillary group: 0.52\u202fg\/dL;\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.005 and venous group: 0.55\u202fg\/dL;\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.001); however, no significant improvements were observed in serum ferritin, folate, and vitamin B\n                      <jats:sub>12.<\/jats:sub>\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Routine consumption of fortified rice significantly improved haemoglobin levels; however, no significant improvements were observed in ferritin, folate, and vitamin B\n                      <jats:sub>12<\/jats:sub>\n                      levels.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1757408","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,1]],"date-time":"2026-04-01T04:46:04Z","timestamp":1775018764000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Impact assessment of fortified rice under the public distribution system: evidence from the tribal regions of Gujarat"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Deepa","family":"Tiwari","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Food and Nutrition, Faculty of Family and Community Sciences, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda","place":["Vadodara, Gujarat, India"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Sirimavo","family":"Nair","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Food and Nutrition, Faculty of Family and Community Sciences, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda","place":["Vadodara, Gujarat, India"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","volume-title":"Global anaemia Reduction Efforts among Women of Reproductive Age: impact, Achievement of Targets and the Way Forward for Optimizing Efforts","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.1111\/nyas.14092","article-title":"Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and etiology in low- and middle-income countries","volume":"1450","author":"Chaparro","year":"2019","journal-title":"Ann N Y Acad Sci"},{"key":"ref3","first-page":"163","volume-title":"Comparative Quantification of Health Risks","author":"Stoltzfus","year":"2004"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"861","DOI":"10.1017\/S1368980015002050","article-title":"Characterisation of anaemia and associated factors among infants and pre-schoolers from rural India","volume":"19","author":"Nair","year":"2016","journal-title":"Public Health Nutr"},{"key":"ref5","volume-title":"National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 2019\u201321: India","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref6","volume-title":"Strategies to Prevent anaemia: Recommendations from an expert Group Consultation","year":"2016"},{"key":"ref7","volume-title":"Anemia Mukt Bharat \u2013 Operational Guidelines","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref8","volume-title":"Answer to Unstarred Question No. 1183 \u2013 Fortification of rice and its Distribution under PDS","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref9","volume-title":"National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) 2015\u201316: Gujarat","year":"2017"},{"key":"ref10","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.18231\/j.ijfcm.2021.001","article-title":"Modified Kuppuswamy socioeconomic scale updated for the year 2021","volume":"8","author":"Saleem","year":"2021","journal-title":"Indian J Forensic Community Med"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1093\/oso\/9780195171693.001.0001","volume-title":"Principles of Nutritional Assessment","author":"Gibson","year":"2005"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.1007\/BF02722739","article-title":"Validation of hemoglobin estimation using Hemocue","volume":"70","author":"Bhaskaram","year":"2003","journal-title":"Indian J Pediatr"},{"key":"ref14","volume-title":"Dietary Assessment: A Resource Ruide to Method Selection and Application in Low Resource Settings","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"660","DOI":"10.2471\/BLT.07.043497","article-title":"Development of a WHO growth reference for school-aged children and adolescents","volume":"85","author":"de Onis","year":"2007","journal-title":"Bull World Health Organ"},{"key":"ref16","volume-title":"Analytical Applications of Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence","author":"Kricka","year":"1984"},{"key":"ref17","volume-title":"Order Regarding Methods for Testing of Fortificants (iron, folic acid and vitamin B12) in Fortified Rice. File No. 11014\/02\/2021-QA; 8 September 2022","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref18","volume-title":"R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref19","volume-title":"Nutrient Requirements for Indians: Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) and Estimated Average Requirements (EAR) \u2013 2020","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"846","DOI":"10.3945\/jn.111.149021","article-title":"Multiple micronutrient-fortified rice affects physical performance and plasma vitamin B-12 and homocysteine concentrations of Indian school children","volume":"142","author":"Thankachan","year":"2012","journal-title":"J Nutr"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1202","DOI":"10.3945\/ajcn.110.007179","article-title":"Micronized ferric pyrophosphate supplied through extruded rice kernels improves body iron stores in children: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled midday meal feeding trial in Indian schoolchildren","volume":"94","author":"Radhika","year":"2011","journal-title":"Am J Clin Nutr"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"405","DOI":"10.5958\/2349-2996.2016.00076","article-title":"Effect of iron-fortified rice consumption on hemoglobin levels among adolescent girls in Hyderabad: a randomized control trial","volume":"3","author":"Sarkar","year":"2016","journal-title":"Indian J Nutr"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2014","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.2005-2440","article-title":"Iron fortification reduces blood lead levels in children in Bangalore, India","volume":"117","author":"Zimmermann","year":"2006","journal-title":"Pediatrics"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.3945\/jn.109.112623","article-title":"Iron-fortified rice is as efficacious as supplemental iron drops in infants and young children","volume":"140","author":"Beinner","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Nutr"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"140","DOI":"10.1177\/156482650802900208","article-title":"Efficacy of iron-fortified ultra Rice in improving the iron status of women in Mexico","volume":"29","author":"Hotz","year":"2008","journal-title":"Food Nutr Bull"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"362","DOI":"10.3945\/jn.112.166058","article-title":"Extruded rice grains fortified with zinc, iron, and vitamin a increase zinc status of Thai schoolchildren","volume":"143","author":"Pinkaew","year":"2013","journal-title":"J Nutr"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0210501","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0210501","article-title":"Effectiveness of micronutrient-fortified rice consumption on anaemia and zinc status among vulnerable women in Bangladesh","volume":"14","author":"Ara","year":"2019","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"348","DOI":"10.1177\/0379572116645863","article-title":"Effectiveness of fortified rice in improving hemoglobin, serum ferritin, folic acid, vitamin a, zinc, and C-reactive protein levels among adolescent girls in Indonesia","volume":"37","author":"Hardinsyah","year":"2016","journal-title":"Food Nutr Bull"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"59","DOI":"10.1024\/0300-9831\/a000145","article-title":"Rice fortified with iron given weekly increases hemoglobin levels and reduces anemia in infants: a community intervention trial","volume":"83","author":"Arcanjo","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int J Vitam Nutr Res"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"117","DOI":"10.1079\/BJN2002594","article-title":"Phytate degradation and iron absorption from cereal-based foods","volume":"88","author":"Hurrell","year":"2002","journal-title":"Br J Nutr"},{"key":"ref31","volume-title":"Guidelines on Food Fortification with Micronutrients","year":"2006"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"200135","DOI":"10.1016\/j.hnm.2021.200135.","article-title":"Impact of seasonal variation on anemia and nutritional status among Ghanaian schoolchildren","volume":"26","author":"Egbi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Hum Nutr Metab"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"66","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jphotobiol.2018.10.012.","article-title":"Association between seasonal serum folate levels and ultraviolet radiation","volume":"190","author":"Valencia-Vera","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Photochem Photobiol B"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"295","DOI":"10.1007\/bf02945300","article-title":"Seasonal variation in folate nutritional status","volume":"152","author":"Wickham","year":"1983","journal-title":"Ir J Med Sci"},{"key":"ref35","year":""},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"289","DOI":"10.1017\/S0007114599000557","article-title":"Inhibition of non -Haem iron absorption in man by polyphenolic-containing beverages","volume":"81","author":"Hurrell","year":"1999","journal-title":"Br J Nutr"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Public Health"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1757408\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,1]],"date-time":"2026-04-01T04:46:20Z","timestamp":1775018780000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1757408\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,1]]},"references-count":36,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1757408"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1757408","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-2565"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-2565","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,1]]},"article-number":"1757408"}}