Abstract
Background: In Cambodia, stunting and wasting affect, respectively, 32% and 10% of children 0–59 months while 55% are anemic. Our research aims to assess the efficiency of two local foods combined with nutritional education and counseling (CEN) activities as compared to CEN alone on improving child nutritional status and dietary intake. Methods: A cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted in Soth Nikum area over a six-month period among children 6–23 months (n = 360) assigned to receive either moringa +CEN, cricket +CEN or CEN alone. Anthropometric measurements were performed and hemoglobin and ferritin levels assessed. Results: Overall, no significant increase in the mean length/height-for-age z-score was observed, although a small increase of the weight-for-length/height was noted in intervention groups. Hemoglobin and ferritin mean values increased in all groups. The degree of satisfaction of energy, proteins, iron, and zinc requirements improved in all groups, but to a greater extent in the intervention groups and more children were healthy. Conclusion: Our research shows no significant impact of the provision of two local foods combined with CEN on the improvement of child nutritional status as compared to CEN alone. However, children consuming them better fulfilled their energy, iron, and zinc requirements and were healthier.
Highlights
In spite of the progress observed in the last few decades, child malnutrition remains a global concern and a priority [1,2,3]
We assessed the efficacy of consuming moringa and cricket powders combined with CEN among young children and compared it with CEN alone on the improvement of young child nutritional status and dietary intake
There was no deterioration of nutritional status among children of CME and control groups as compared to the general population of young children in Cambodia [18]
Summary
In spite of the progress observed in the last few decades, child malnutrition remains a global concern and a priority [1,2,3]. Worldwide, stunting, and wasting affect 155 and 52 million children below five years of age, respectively, while iron deficiency is the most common and widespread micronutrient disorder [4,5]. Iron deficiency is estimated to contribute around 40% of cases of anemia in children below five years of age [6,7]. Stunting or low length/height-for-age has been associated with increased risk of mortality from infectious diseases, poor child motor and cognitive development, lower educational achievements, Nutrients 2018, 10, 1450; doi:10.3390/nu10101450 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients. Anemia has been linked to maternal mortality, low birth weight, delayed child development, and has been used as an indirect indicator of iron deficiency [7]. Hemoglobin and ferritin mean values increased in all groups
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
