Predicted efficacy of the Palestinian wheat flour fortification programme: complementary analysis of biochemical and dietary data

To utilize complementary biochemical and dietary data collected before the initiation of national flour fortification to (i) identify micronutrient insufficiencies or deficiencies and dietary inadequacies in Palestinian women and children in vulnerable communities and (ii) assess the suitability of the current wheat flour fortification formula. Quantitative dietary intake questionnaires were administered and fasting venous blood samples collected in randomly selected households in Gaza City and Hebron. The impact of fortification was simulated by estimating the additional micronutrient content of fortified wheat flour. Households in Gaza City and Hebron that were not receiving food aid from social programmes. Non-pregnant women (18-49 years) and children aged 36-83 months. The micronutrients with highest prevalence of insufficiency were vitamin D in women (84-97 % with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D