Abstract
This randomized, single-masked, controlled trial examined the effects of nutrient-fortified milk-based formula supplementation on nutritional status, nutrient intake, and psychomotor skills of selected preschool children with mean age of 4.10 ± 0.14 years. The study participants were divided equally into three major groups, normal, underweight, and severely underweight based on WHO-Child Growth Standards, and were further divided into two groups: fortified milk group who was given two glasses of fortified milk (50 g of powdered milk/serving) a day for twelve weeks in addition to their usual diet and the nonintervention group who was not given fortified milk and thus maintained their usual intake. Anthropometric measurements, dietary intake, and psychomotor developmental score were analyzed. Results showed that consumption of two servings of fortified milk a day for twelve weeks significantly increased the height of preschool children by 1.40 cm, weight by 1.35 kg, body mass index by 0.96 kg/m2, mid-upper arm circumference by 0.66 cm, and psychomotor scores by 13.74% more than those children who did not consume fortified milk (p < 0.0001). Hence, fortified milk-based supplement in the diet of preschool children improved overall nutritional status, nutrient intake, and performance in psychomotor scale. This study is registered in Philippine Health Research Registry: PHRR140923-000234.
Highlights
Childhood malnutrition remains a major problem in developing countries
There was a significant increase in the weight of the subjects under the fortified milk group after twelve weeks of study intervention, only twenty (33%) of the subjects under the fortified milk group improved their nutritional status based on the World Health Organization-Child Growth Standards (WHO-CGS) weight for age classification
Two of the subjects under the fortified milk group (FMG)-NO became at risk for possible overweight based on BMI for age
Summary
Childhood malnutrition remains a major problem in developing countries. According to Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), in 2013, almost 20% of Filipino preschool children are underweight and 30% are stunted. Consequences of malnutrition include a reduced resistance to infection resulting in infection being a leading cause of death among young children in developing countries [3,4,5,6]. Numerous studies have demonstrated a correlation of growth indicators such as weight, height, and head circumference to children’s intellectual abilities such that a poor nutritional status results in lower school performance, higher absenteeism, and a lower intelligence quotient [10,11,12,13,14,15,16].
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