This study aimed to evaluate the impact of fortified biscuit consumption on the iron status of school-aged children in rural Kaolack.

The main question it aims to answer is:

• Does the consumption of iron-fortified biscuits improve the iron status of school-aged children? Researchers compared the iron-fortified biscuit to a placebo (a biscuit similar in appearance but without iron-rich ingredients) to measure its effectiveness.

Participants:

• Consumed either the fortified biscuit or the placebo daily for 3 months
• Took part in data collection after 3 months of biscuit consumption

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children aged 6 to 16 years
• Enrolled in one of the two selected elementary schools (French or Franco-Arab)
• Availability to participate throughout the 3-month intervention period
• Obtained written informed consent from parent or guardian Verbal assent obtained from the child

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children diagnosed with sickle cell disease (SCD)
• Children currently under iron supplementation or treatment at the start of the study
• Refusal to participate or withdrawal of consent at any time

In this study, both participants and data collectors were blinded to the group assignments. Participants were unaware whether they were receiving the iron-fortified biscuit or the placebo biscuit, as both were similar in appearance and taste. Additionally, data collectors responsible for anthropometric and biological measurements were not informed of the participants' allocation to ensure objectivity in data collection. However, the study coordinators and investigators were aware of the intervention allocation due to the nature of the study design.