Synbiotic Fermented Milk with Double Fortification (Fe-Zn) as a Strategy to Address Stunting: A Randomized Controlled Trial among Children under Five in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Siti Helmyati,Dominikus Raditya Atmaka,Rio Aditya Pratama,Maria Wigati,Karina Muthia Shanti,Fatma Zuhrotun Nisa’,Setyo Utami Wisnusanti,Martha Puspita Sari,Endang Sutriswati Rahayu,Fahmi Tiara Sari

doi:10.3390/pr9030543

Siti Helmyati, Dominikus Raditya Atmaka + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9030543

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Journal: Processes	Publication Date: Mar 19, 2021
Citations: 7	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Universitas Gadjah Mada, Airlangga University

Abstract

Stunting is one of the public health problems that has yet to be solved in Indonesia. This study developed synbiotic fermented milk with iron and zinc fortification that was then tested in a clinical setting. The product was made from skimmed milk and fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum. A sample of 94 stunted children under five years old were randomly assigned to intervention or control groups. The intervention group received double-fortified synbiotic milk, while the control group drank non-fortified milk. After three months, the number of normal children in both groups, according to weight- or height-for-age z-score category, was found to be increasing. However, the difference between the two groups was not significant (p > 0.05). The study suggests that fermented milk may have a good effect on child growth. Further research is needed to deepen the potency of synbiotic fermented milk for stunted children.

Highlights

Developing countries are known for their complex public health problems, including stunting
Ninety-four (n = 94) children under five years of age were divided into two groups: intervention and control
There were no significant differences in height between the intervention and the control groups after they were given synbiotic milk, with or without double fortification (Fe-Zn)

Summary

Introduction

Developing countries are known for their complex public health problems, including stunting. This number lowered to 149 million children in 2019, stunting remains one of the serious global health challenges that need to be solved This problem is happening in Indonesia as one of the developing countries [1,2,3]. The prevalence of stunting among Indonesian children under five reached 30.8% in 2018 This situation is highly varied in each of the 34 provinces—for example, in East Nusa Tenggara, the stunting prevalence has reached more than 40% [4]. This alarming number emphasizes the need for innovative approaches to combat stunting [5,6]

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