The effects of sansa extract compound‐22 supplementation on growth indices, diet and picky eating behaviors of thin preschool children (LB323)

Abstract

Thin children may have insufficient intake of energy and nutrients resulting in decreased immune function and faltered growth. This study aimed to identify the effects of Sansa Extract Compound‐22(SEC‐22) supplementation on growth and changes in diet and eating behaviors in thin children. A double blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted on 79 children aged 2‐5 years with poor appetites and BMI percentile < 25 and without any illness. The experimental group (n=35) was supplemented with SEC‐22 and the placebo group (n=44) was given similar treatment without SEC‐22 for 2 months and observation followed for 2 months after supplementation. Three‐day dietary records, questionnaires on picky eating behaviors, and anthropometric measures were collected. During the intervention, carbohydrate intake and an index of picky eating behavior (Frequency of trying to feed) improved in both groups. This improvement remained at the second month of follow‐up in the SEC‐22 group (p<0.05). There was a greater increase in weight‐for‐age z score (WAZ) compared to baseline in the second month of treatment in the SEC‐22 group (0.091), but not in the placebo group (0.025). Compared to baseline, BMI‐for‐age z score (BAZ) in the second month of treatment and second month of follow‐up increased in SEC‐22 group (0.143, 0.159, respectively), but not in the placebo group (0.058, ‐0.032, respectively). These results suggest that supplementation of SEC‐22 may be effective in increasing the energy intake, WAZ, and BAZ and improving picky eating behaviors of thin children.