Tenth year reenrollment randomized trial investigating the effects of childhood probiotics and calcium supplementation on height and weight at adolescence.

Microbiota and its modification with specific probiotics in early life could provide long term health benefits. Probiotics and calcium strengthen intestinal integrity and may support linear growth. This study investigated the long-term effects of childhood probiotics and calcium supplementation on growth in adolescence. We re-enrolled 238 adolescents aged 11-18 years from 494 children 10-years after 6-months of supplementation with either low-lactose milk fortified with low levels of calcium (LC, âˆ¼50 mg/day, n = 53/124), with regular levels of calcium (RC, ∼440 mg/day, n = 70/126), or with regular calcium + 5 x 108 CFU/day Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 (Reuteri, n = 55/124), or regular calcium + 5 x 108 CFU/day L. casei CRL 431 (Casei, n = 60/120). Changes in height-for-age z-score (HAZ) and body mass index-for-age z-score (BMIZ) were determined from the end of intervention to re-enrollment. General linear models were used to assess the effects on HAZ and BMIZ of group, gender, living area, maternal education, family income, physical activity, diet quality, nutritional status, and gut integrity as determined by urinary lactulose/mannitol ratio (L:M). Adolescent mean age was 15.3 years, mean HAZ was - 1.11, mean BMIZ was - 0.2 and median L:M (n = 155) was 0.23. Changes in HAZ and BMIZ were not significantly different between Casei, Reuteri, LC compared to RC. However, a significant decrease in BMIZ was observed among female adolescents in the Casei compared to RC group (- 0.5 SD, 95% CI - 0.8 to - 0.003, p = 0.048). Childhood probiotic and calcium supplementation may therefore selectively affect female adolescents.Clinical trial registration: This follow-up study has been registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov , Registry name: Rina Agustina, Registration number: NCT04046289, First Registration Date 06/08/19. web link: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04046289 .

Effect of Supplementation of Zinc, Glutamine, Fiber, and Prebiotics in Presumed Healthy Indonesian Children Aged 1-3 Years.

PURPOSE: Impaired intestinal mucosal integrity may affect the gastrointestinal function, especially in relation to nutrition, absorption, and barrier function. The purpose of this study was to measure the prevalence of impaired intestinal mucosal integrity in presumed healthy children aged 1-3 years and assess the effects of zinc, glutamine, fiber, and prebiotic supplementation in them. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 200 children aged 1-3 years in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, Indonesia. A randomized double-blind parallel group method clinical trial was then performed to assess the effects of zinc, glutamine, fiber, and prebiotic supplementation. RESULTS: Elevated calprotectin was found in 91/200 subjects (45.5%) at the onset of the study. After 10 months, 144 subjects completed the study: 72 subjects received the trial formula, whereas the other 72 received the standard formula. A transitory decrease in fecal calprotectin (FC) was observed after 6 months in the subgroup with normal FC levels, who were fed the test formula (p=0.012). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of impaired intestinal mucosal integrity in this group of Indonesian children aged 1-3 years was high. Supplementation with zinc, glutamine, fiber, and prebiotics during 6 months reduced FC only in those who had low levels at baseline but not in those with impaired integrity.