Currently the three main widely used strategies to control micronutrient de
ficiencies are food diversification, fortification, and consumption of medi
cinal supplements. In Tanzania a fourth strategy has been evaluated in scho
ol children, and is to be studied in pregnant and lactating women, The diet
ary supplement comes in the form of a powder used to prepare a fruit flavor
ed drink. Children consumed for six months 25 grams per school day attended
, the powder being added to 200 ml of water. The dietary supplement provide
s between 40 and 100 percent of the RDA of 10 micronutrients, which include
s iron, vitamin A and iodine. Unlike medicinal supplements it provides the
multiple vitamins and minerals in physiologic, not megadoses. In a well con
ducted randomized double blind placebo controlled trial, a dietary suppleme
nt in the form of a fortified powder fruit drink produced statistically sig
nificant differences not only in vitamin A and iron status, but also in the
growth of young school age children.