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).

Association between iron deficiency anaemia and complementary feeding in children under 2 years assisted by a Conditional Cash Transfer programme.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between Fe deficiency anaemia (IDA) and complementary feeding in children under 2 years old assisted by the Conditional Cash Transfer programme, Bolsa Família (BFP). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. Data were obtained through a standardised form, questionnaire to assess the eating habits of children under 2 years of age, capillary Hb (HemoCue®) and the Brazilian Household Food Insecurity Measurement Scale. Associations were calculated using hierarchical Poisson regression, adjusted at the last level by socio-economic, demographic and environmental variables from previous hierarchical levels. SETTING: Six municipalities from the State of Alagoas, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: Children aged 6-24 months assisted by BFP. RESULTS: A total of 1604 children were evaluated, among whom 58·1 % had anaemia. A higher number of food groups consumed (prevalence ratio (PR) = 0·97; 95 % CI 0·95, 0·99; P = 0·009), the consumption of dairy (PR = 0·86; 95 % CI 0·79, 0·84; P = 0·001) and meat (PR = 0·90; 95 % CI 0·83, 0·99; P = 0·030) in addition to bottle feeding (PR = 0·88; 95 % CI 0·82, 0·96; P = 0·004) were associated with a lower prevalence of IDA. CONCLUSIONS: IDA is still a serious public health problem in children under 2 years old assisted by BFP in Alagoas. We highlight the importance of promoting complementary feeding based on a diversified dietary intake, as well strengthening prophylactic supplementation programmes to increase children's adherence in conjunction with the implementation of food and nutrition education to help reduce the prevalence of this condition.

Desempenho cognitivo de pré-escolares com baixa estatura em tratamento de recuperação nutricional / Cognitive performance of stunted pre-school children undergoing nutritional recovery treatment

RESUMO Objetivo: Determinar se o tratamento de crianças com baixa estatura, ofertado em um centro especializado, influencia seu desempenho cognitivo. Métodos: Foram analisados dois grupos de crianças advindas de famílias vulneráveis, um com crianças com baixa estatura em tratamento no Centro de Recuperação e Educação Nutricional (CREN) e outro de crianças eutróficas de uma creche municipal localizada na mesma região do CREN. No CREN, as crianças são tratadas em semi-internato (9 horas/dia, 5 dias/semana), recebendo suporte médico, nutricional e psicopedagógico. Todas foram submetidas ao Teste de Triagem do Desenvolvimento de Denver-II e avaliadas quanto ao índice de estatura-para-idade em 3 momentos distintos: no início do acompanhamento e após 6 e 12 meses. A classificação socioeconômica das crianças, de acordo com os Critérios de Classificação Econômica Brasil, foi feita no início do acompanhamento. Calcularam-se razões de prevalência para a análise transversal da linha de base, por meio de uma regressão de Poisson, e razões de prevalência agrupadas para a análise longitudinal, por meio de um modelo de estimativas de equações generalizadas, ambas ajustadas por idade, sexo e classe socioeconômica. Resultados: Ao todo, 74 crianças foram analisadas, 37 em cada grupo. Não houve diferenças de idade, sexo e classe socioeconômica entre os grupos. Na análise longitudinal, o grupo CREN apresentou melhor desempenho no domínio pessoal-social (razão de prevalência agrupada: 0,89; intervalo de confiança de 95% - IC95%: 0,82-0,95), sem diferenças significativas para os demais domínios. Conclusão: O tratamento ofertado pelo CREN melhorou satisfatoriamente as habilidades sociais das crianças tratadas, sem alterar os demais domínios.

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine if the treatment of stunted children offered at a specialized center influences their cognitive performance. Methods: Two groups of children from vulnerable families were selected, one consisting of stunted children being treated at the Nutrition Education and Recovery Center (CREN), and the other group of eutrophic children from a local, public day care center. At CREN, children are treated in a day-hospital system (9 hours/day, 5 days/week), receiving medical, nutritional and psycho-pedagogical support. All children were submitted to the Denver-II Development Screening Test and had their development and the height-for-age index assessed at 3 moments: at the beginning of the follow-up, and after 6 and 12 months. The socioeconomic status, according to the Brazilian Economic Classification Criteria, was assessed at the beginning of the follow-up. Data were treated by prevalence ratios for cross-sectional baseline analysis, using the Poisson regression, and by pooled prevalence ratios for longitudinal analysis, using a generalized equation estimation model, both adjusted by age, sex and economic status. Results: Seventy-four children were included, 37 for each group. There were no differences in age, sex and socioeconomic status between groups. In the longitudinal analysis, the CREN group showed better performance in the personal-social domain (pooled prevalence ratio: 0.89; 95% confidence interval - 95%IC 0.82-0.95), with no differences in the other domains. Conclusions: The treatment offered at CREN satisfactorily improved the social skills of the treated children, without changing other domains.

COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE OF STUNTED PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN UNDERGOING NUTRITIONAL RECOVERY TREATMENT. / DESEMPENHO COGNITIVO DE PRÉ-ESCOLARES COM BAIXA ESTATURA EM TRATAMENTO DE RECUPERAÇÃO NUTRICIONAL.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the treatment of stunted children offered at a specialized center influences their cognitive performance. METHODS: Two groups of children from vulnerable families were selected, one consisting of stunted children being treated at the Nutrition Education and Recovery Center (CREN), and the other group of eutrophic children from a local, public day care center. At CREN, children are treated in a day-hospital system (9 hours/day, 5 days/week), receiving medical, nutritional and psycho-pedagogical support. All children were submitted to the Denver-II Development Screening Test and had their development and the height-for-age index assessed at 3 moments: at the beginning of the follow-up, and after 6 and 12 months. The socioeconomic status, according to the Brazilian Economic Classification Criteria, was assessed at the beginning of the follow-up. Data were treated by prevalence ratios for cross-sectional baseline analysis, using the Poisson regression, and by pooled prevalence ratios for longitudinal analysis, using a generalized equation estimation model, both adjusted by age, sex and economic status. RESULTS: Seventy-four children were included, 37 for each group. There were no differences in age, sex and socioeconomic status between groups. In the longitudinal analysis, the CREN group showed better performance in the personal-social domain (pooled prevalence ratio: 0.89; 95% confidence interval - 95%IC 0.82-0.95), with no differences in the other domains. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment offered at CREN satisfactorily improved the social skills of the treated children, without changing other domains.

OBJETIVO: Determinar se o tratamento de crianças com baixa estatura, ofertado em um centro especializado, influencia seu desempenho cognitivo. MÉTODOS: Foram analisados dois grupos de crianças advindas de famílias vulneráveis, um com crianças com baixa estatura em tratamento no Centro de Recuperação e Educação Nutricional (CREN) e outro de crianças eutróficas de uma creche municipal localizada na mesma região do CREN. No CREN, as crianças são tratadas em semi-internato (9 horas/dia, 5 dias/semana), recebendo suporte médico, nutricional e psicopedagógico. Todas foram submetidas ao Teste de Triagem do Desenvolvimento de Denver-II e avaliadas quanto ao índice de estatura-para-idade em 3 momentos distintos: no início do acompanhamento e após 6 e 12 meses. A classificação socioeconômica das crianças, de acordo com os Critérios de Classificação Econômica Brasil, foi feita no início do acompanhamento. Calcularam-se razões de prevalência para a análise transversal da linha de base, por meio de uma regressão de Poisson, e razões de prevalência agrupadas para a análise longitudinal, por meio de um modelo de estimativas de equações generalizadas, ambas ajustadas por idade, sexo e classe socioeconômica. RESULTADOS: Ao todo, 74 crianças foram analisadas, 37 em cada grupo. Não houve diferenças de idade, sexo e classe socioeconômica entre os grupos. Na análise longitudinal, o grupo CREN apresentou melhor desempenho no domínio pessoal-social (razão de prevalência agrupada: 0,89; intervalo de confiança de 95% - IC95%: 0,82-0,95), sem diferenças significativas para os demais domínios. CONCLUSÃO: O tratamento ofertado pelo CREN melhorou satisfatoriamente as habilidades sociais das crianças tratadas, sem alterar os demais domínios.