Effects of bovine serum concentrate, with or without supplemental micronutrients, on the growth, morbidity, and micronutrient status of young children in a low-income, peri-urban Guatemalan community.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of dietary supplements containing bovine serum concentrate (BSC, a source of immunoglobulins) and/or multiple micronutrients (MMN) on children's growth velocity, rates of common infections, and MN status. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled, community-based intervention trial. SETTING: Low-income, peri-urban Guatemalan community. SUBJECTS: Children aged 6-7 months initially. INTERVENTIONS: Children received one of four maize-based dietary supplements daily for 8 months, containing: (1) BSC, (2) whey protein concentrate (WPC, control group), (3) WPC+MMN, or (4) BSC+MMN. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in growth or rates of morbidity by treatment group. Children who received MMN had lower rates of anemia and (in the group that received WPC+MMN) less of a decline in serum ferritin than those who did not, but there were no differences in other biochemical indicators of MN status by treatment group. CONCLUSIONS: MMN supplementation reduced anemia and iron deficiency in this population, but the MMN content and source of protein in the supplements did not affect other indicators of MN status, growth or morbidity.

Zinc supplementation improves the growth of stunted rural Guatemalan infants.

The impact of zinc supplementation on the growth and body composition of Guatemalan infants was assessed in a community-based, double-blind intervention trial. Infants aged 6-9 mo were assigned randomly to receive 4 mL of a beverage containing 10 mg of zinc as zinc sulfate (n = 45) or a placebo (n = 44) daily (7 d/wk) for an average of 6.9 mo. The children's weight, length, mid-upper arm and head circumferences, and triceps skinfolds were measured at baseline and at 1-2 mo intervals until the end of supplementation. Midarm muscle area (MMA) was derived from the mid-upper arm circumference and triceps skinfolds measurements. Maternal anthropometry and family socioeconomic and demographic characteristics also were obtained. Zinc supplementation was associated with an overall increase of 0.61 cm2 in MMA (P = 0.02). Children who received zinc supplements had a mean length increment that was 0.75 cm greater than those who did not (P = 0.12). However, there was a significant interaction between treatment group and initial length-for-age status (P = 0.04), such that supplemented children who were stunted at baseline (length-for-age Z score less than -2) gained 1.40 cm more than stunted children who received the placebo. We conclude that zinc supplementation of these rural Guatemalan infants during 6. 9 mo increased accretion of fat-free mass and enhanced the linear growth of those who were stunted at baseline. Further research is required to determine whether zinc supplementation during longer periods of time may achieve larger and more generalized effects on physical growth.

Zinc supplementation affects the activity patterns of rural Guatemalan infants.

Zinc deficiency has been associated with growth deficits, reduced dietary intake and appetite, and has been hypothesized to result in reduced activity. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined whether 10 mg of oral zinc as zinc sulfate, given daily for up to 7 mo, affected activity patterns of 85 Guatemalan infants recruited at 6-9 mo of age. Infant activity was assessed by time sampling-observation method at 10-min intervals during a 12-h data collection period, at base line, 3 and 7 mo follow-up. Motor development and the percentage of time infants were observed in various positions (being carried, lying down, sitting, crawling, standing or walking) and engaged in various activities (eating, sleeping, resting, crying/whining or playing) were compared by treatment group. No differences in motor development were observed by treatment group. However, at follow-up 2 (after 7 mo of supplementation), zinc-supplemented infants were significantly more frequently observed sitting up compared with lying down, and were playing during 4.18 +/- 1.95% (P < 0.05) more observations than unsupplemented infants. They were also somewhat less likely to be observed crying or whining (P < 0.10) compared with those receiving the placebo. These effects are independent of other factors including infant age, motor development, sex, maternal education, family socioeconomic status and nutritional status at base line. Further research must be conducted to determine the long-term developmental importance of these differences in activity patterns associated with zinc supplementation in this setting.

Impact of zinc supplementation on morbidity from diarrhea and respiratory infections among rural Guatemalan children.

OBJECTIVE: A community-based, randomized, double-blind intervention trial was conducted to measure the impact of zinc supplementation on young Guatemalan children's morbidity from diarrhea and respiratory infections. METHODS: Children aged 6 to 9 months were randomly assigned to receive 4 mL of a beverage containing 10 mg of zinc (as zinc sulfate) daily (7 d/wk) for 7 months (n = 45) or a placebo (n = 44). Morbidity data were collected daily. Diagnoses of diarrhea, fever, and anorexia were based on mothers' definitions. Respiratory infections were defined as the presence of at least two of the following symptoms: runny nose, cough, wheezing, difficulty breathing, or fever. RESULTS: High rates of diarrhea and respiratory infections were reported. Children from the placebo group had a 20% episodic prevalence of diarrhea, with 8 episodes/100 d, and a 7% episodic prevalence of respiratory infections, with 3 episodes/100 d. The median incidence of diarrhea among children who received zinc supplementation was reduced by 22% (Wilcoxon rank test), with larger reductions among boys and among children with weight-for-length at baseline lower than the median of the sample (39% reductions in both subgroups). Zinc supplementation also produced a 67% reduction in the percentage of children who had one or more episodes of persistent diarrhea (chi2 test). No significant effects were found on the episodic prevalence of diarrhea, the number of days per episode, or the episodic prevalence or incidence of respiratory infections. CONCLUSIONS: The large impact of zinc supplementation on diarrhea incidence suggests that young, rural Guatemalan children may be zinc deficient and that zinc supplementation may be an effective intervention to improve their health and growth.