Search

Background: Evidence on the effect of small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNSs) on early child growth and development is mixed. Objective This study assessed the effect of daily consumption of 2 different SQ-LNS formulations on linear growth (primary outcome), psychomotor development, iron status (secondary outcomes), and morbidity in infants from age 6 to 12 mo within the context of a maize-based complementary diet. Methods: Infants (n = 750) were randomly assigned to receive SQ-LNS, SQ-LNS-plus, or no supplement. Both SQ-LNS products contained micronutrients and essential fatty acids. SQ-LNS-plus contained, in addition, docosahexaenoic acid, arachidonic acid (important for brain and eye development), lysine (limiting amino acid in maize), phytase (enhances iron absorption), and other nutrients. Infants’ weight and length were measured bimonthly. At age 6 and 12 mo, psychomotor development using the Kilifi Developmental Inventory and South African Parent Rating Scale and hemoglobin, plasma ferritin, C-reactive protein, and α1-acid glycoprotein were assessed. WHO Motor Milestone outcomes, adherence, and morbidity were monitored weekly through home visits. Primary analysis was by intention-to-treat, comparing each SQ-LNS group with the control. Results: SQ-LNS-plus had a positive effect on length-for-age zscore at age 8 mo (mean difference: 0.11; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.22; P = 0.032) and 10 mo (0.16; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.27; P = 0.008) but not at 12 mo (0.09; 95% CI: −0.02, 0.21; P = 0.115), locomotor development score (2.05; 95% CI: 0.72, 3.38; P = 0.003), and Parent Rating Score (1.10; 95% CI: 0.14, 2.07; P = 0.025), but no effect for weight-for-age zscore. Both SQ-LNS (P = 0.027) and SQ-LNS-plus (P = 0.005) improved hemoglobin concentration and reduced the risk of anemia, iron deficiency, and iron-deficiency anemia. Both SQ-LNS products reduced longitudinal prevalence of fever, coughing, and wheezing but increased incidence and longitudinal prevalence of diarrhea, vomiting, and rash/sores. Conclusions: Point-of-use fortification with SQ-LNS-plus showed an early transient effect on linear growth and improved locomotor development. Both SQ-LNS products had positive impacts on anemia and iron status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maize-meal porridge is used for infant feeding in many African countries, including South Africa. A low-cost, finely milled, maize-meal porridge was fortified with β-carotene, iron, and zinc (100% of recommended dietary allowance), as well as ascorbic acid, copper, selenium, riboflavin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, and vitamin E. Objective: We assessed whether the fortified porridge could reduce anemia and improve the micronutrient status and motor development of infants. Design: Infants aged 6 -12 mo (n = 361) were randomly assigned to receive either the fortified or unfortified porridge for 6 mo. Primary outcomes were hemoglobin and serum retinol, zinc, and ferritin concentrations and motor development. Growth was assessed as a secondary outcome. Primary and secondary outcomes were assessed at baseline and 6 mo. Results: Two hundred ninety-two infants completed the study. The fortified-porridge group had an intervention effect of 9.4 μg/L (95% CI: 3.6, 15.1 μg/L) for serum ferritin and 9 g/L (95% CI: 6, 12 g/L) for hemoglobin concentrations. The proportion of infants with anemia decreased from 45% to 17% in the fortified-porridge group, whereas it remained >40% in the control group. The fortified-porridge group achieved on average 15.5 of the 25 motor development score items, whereas the control group achieved 14.4 items (P = 0.007). Serum retinol concentration showed an inconsistent effect, and no intervention effect was observed for serum zinc concentrations. Conclusions: This low-cost fortified porridge can potentially have a significant effect in reducing anemia and improving iron status and motor development of infants in poor settings. The formulation needs some adjustment in terms of zinc fortification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the effect of micronutrient-fortified biscuits on the micronutrient status of primary school children. Deficiencies of iron, iodine, and vitamin A; Between-group treatment effect on serum retinol, serum ferritin, serum iron, transferrin saturation and urinary iodine in hemoglobin and hematocrit; School feeding program; Beta-carotene.