Red propolis supplementation does not decrease acute respiratory events in stunted preschool children: A paired nonrandomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of "red propolis" supplementation in the frequency of acute respiratory infections incidence in stunted preschool children. We hypothesized that the "red" propolis supplementation is effective in the reduce frequency of acute respiratory complications in stunted children. METHODS: This is a non-randomized, pair-matched clinical trial with 70 children, ranging from 1 to 5 years old, followed for 1 year, which were paired into two groups according to age, sex, and stunting classification. The children were in the day hospital regimen of CREN and received 5 meals/day and an additional 8 ml of honey or honey with "red propolis" in a 3% dilution. The children had access to nutritional, psychological, dental, and physician care. Respiratory complications were recorded in a pre-existing protocol of the institution by the same pediatrician, who was blind for the children's allocation. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical tests such as hemogram, IGF-1, and immunoglobulin E, G, M were conducted. RESULTS: The most prevalent symptoms were coughing, runny nose, nasal congestion and wheezing. The use of "red propolis" did not decrease the frequency of infections between the control and propolis groups, respectively (2 [1-7] vs 3 [1-7], p = 0.10), which was within the estimated by the Pan American Health Organization. There were no differences between groups in anthropometric and biochemical parameters. CONCLUSION: Supplementation with "red propolis" did not reduce the number of infections in stunted children over 1 year. Possibly, the dilution percentage (3%) may have been insufficient to allow effective action. The protocol of published in the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-4n7j6h).

Food insecurity and weight status of socially vulnerable child beneficiaries of a food assistance programme in Maceió, Northeast Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between weight status and food insecurity of children living in social vulnerability who are beneficiaries of a food assistance programme (FAP). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: From all children benefiting from the FAP in the municipality, 30 % were mapped in forty-seven distribution points. Their weight status was evaluated using BMI-for-age and food insecurity was determined with the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale. Socio-economic data of the participants were collected using regular questionnaires. The main outcome measure was obesity. PARTICIPANTS: To be a beneficiary of the FAP, a family must have a child aged 24-96 months and receive less than half a minimum wage per capita. Participating families receive 1 litre of whole milk per day. RESULTS: In all, 1487 children had BMI-for-age and food insecurity data. Of these children, 376 (25·3 %) had excess weight, of whom 164 (11·0 %) presented with obesity, and only twenty-seven (1·8 %) were underweight; 76 % of the families had some degree of food insecurity. Multivariable analysis revealed no overall association between household food insecurity and weight status. In the specific comparison, children living in severe food insecurity were less likely to present obesity than those children living in food security (prevalence ratio = 0·60; 95 % CI 0·38, 0·96; P = 0·03). CONCLUSIONS: In a socially vulnerable population that participates in a FAP, there was no overall association between food insecurity and weight status in children, a result which is similar to what is observed in more developed contexts.

Perfil socioeconômico, nutricional e de ingestão alimentar de beneficiários do Programa Bolsa Família / Socioeconomic, nutritional and dietary intake of beneficiaries of Bolsa Família Program

Foram estudados beneficiários do Programa Bolsa Família de Maceió (AL) e encontrada alta prevalência de desnutrição nas crianças (18 por cento) e adolescentes (20 por cento); mas excesso de peso nos adultos (51 por cento). As mulheres beneficiárias tiveram quatro vezes mais chance de ter obesidade abdominal em relação aos outros adultos. A maioria das famílias (92 por cento) apresentou Insegurança Alimentar (IA), sendo em 33 por cento grave. Houve associação entre IA e maior número de pessoas na casa e desemprego. Entre as obesas houve aumento no consumo de alimentos ricos em carboidratos e lipídios em relação à outra população não beneficiária. Encontrou-se ingestão inadequada de cálcio, folato, vitamina E, magnésio, vitamina C, zinco, riboflavina, tiamina e fibra. Esses achados demonstram a necessidade de ações integradas entre políticas de educação/saúde e os programas de transferência de renda.(AU)

Perfil socioeconômico, nutricional e de ingestão alimentar de beneficiários do Programa Bolsa Família / Socioeconomic, nutritional and dietary intake of beneficiaries of Bolsa Família Program

Foram estudados beneficiários do Programa Bolsa Família de Maceió (AL) e encontrada alta prevalência de desnutrição nas crianças (18 por cento) e adolescentes (20 por cento); mas excesso de peso nos adultos (51 por cento). As mulheres beneficiárias tiveram quatro vezes mais chance de ter obesidade abdominal em relação aos outros adultos. A maioria das famílias (92 por cento) apresentou Insegurança Alimentar (IA), sendo em 33 por cento grave. Houve associação entre IA e maior número de pessoas na casa e desemprego. Entre as obesas houve aumento no consumo de alimentos ricos em carboidratos e lipídios em relação à outra população não beneficiária. Encontrou-se ingestão inadequada de cálcio, folato, vitamina E, magnésio, vitamina C, zinco, riboflavina, tiamina e fibra. Esses achados demonstram a necessidade de ações integradas entre políticas de educação/saúde e os programas de transferência de renda.