Small-Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements, Regardless of Their Zinc Content, Increase Growth and Reduce the Prevalence of Stunting and Wasting in Young Burkinabe Children: A Cluster-Randomized Trial

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122242
• Publication Date: 2015-03-29T02:28:52Z
• Authors: Sonja Y. Hess; Souheila Abbeddou; Elizabeth Yakes J...; Jérôme W. Somé; Stephen A. Vosti; Zinéwendé P. Ouéd...; Rosemonde M. Guissou; Jean-Bosco Ouédraogo; Kenneth H. Brown
• Keywords: PREPUBERTAL CHILDREN; Male; 0301 basic medicine; 570; NUTRITIONAL-STATUS; COMPLEMENTARY FOODS; Science; 610; 03 medical and health sciences; MALARIA; HOME-FORTIFICATION; MICRONUTRIENT SUPPLEMENTS; Burkina Faso; Medicine and Health Sciences; Humans; DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES; METAANALYSIS; Growth Disorders; SPRINKLES; 2. Zero hunger; Wasting Syndrome; Q; R; Infant; DIARRHEA; Lipids; 3. Good health; Zinc; Dietary Supplements; Medicine; Female; Research Article

Small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) are promising home fortification products, but the optimal zinc level needed to improve growth and reduce morbidity is uncertain. We aimed assess impact of providing SQ-LNS with varied amounts zinc, along illness treatment, on zinc-related outcomes compared standard care. In a placebo-controlled, cluster-randomized trial, 34 communities were stratified intervention (IC) or non-intervention cohorts (NIC). 2435 eligible IC children randomly assigned one four groups:1) without placebo tablet; 2) containing 5mg 3) 10mg 4) tablet from 9–18 months age. During weekly surveillance, oral rehydration salts provided for reported diarrhea antimalarial therapy confirmed malaria. Children in NIC (n = 785) did not receive SQ-LNS, tablets, surveillance treatment. At 9 18 months, length, weight hemoglobin measured all children. Reported adherence was 97±6% tablets. Mean baseline 89±15g/L. change greater than (+8 vs -1g/L, p<0.0001), 79.1% still anemic (vs. 91.1% NIC). Final plasma concentration differ by group. 9-month observation period, incidence 1.10±1.03 malaria 0.54±0.50 episodes per 100 child-days, Length at significantly (77.7±3.0 vs. 76.9±3.4cm; p<0.001) stunting prevalence lower (29.3%) (39.3%; group within IC. Wasting also (8.7%) (13.5%; p 0.0003). Providing daily increased reduced stunting, wasting anemia young Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00944281