ABSTRACT
Maíz de alta calidad de proteína (Quality Protein Maize, en inglés, QPM), con el doble de triptófano y lisina que el maíz convencional, ha mejorado el estado nutricional de niños severamente desnutridos. Su impacto en el crecimiento y morbilidad de niños con desnutrición leve o moderado fue estudiado en este ensayo clínico doble ciego. En un centro de desarrollo infantil nicaragüense se identificaron 48 niños desnutridos (con > 2 indicadores <-1 Z para peso-edad, talla-edad o peso-talla) de 1 a 5 años. Fueron asignados aleatoriamente a consumir un complemento formulado con maíz QPM o convencional por 5 días/semana y durante 3.5 meses. QPM influyó de manera positiva en el crecimiento de los niños: peso (0.80 vs. 0.19 kg ganados de línea de base al final, entre el grupo QPM y convencional, respectivamente), talla (2.02 vs. 1.23 cm en QPM vs. convencional) y punto Z para peso-edad (0.17 vs. -0.26 Z en QPM vs. convencional) y talla-edad (0.06 vs. -0.23 Z en QPM vs. convencional). Al controlar factores que podrían influir en el aumento de peso, talla, punto Z de peso-edad y talla-edad, el grupo de intervención (QPM>convencional) fue un factor importante estadísticamente (P<0.01). Sin embargo, el complemento con QPM no afectó de manera estadísticamente significativa (P>0.05) la incidencia de enfermedades diarreicas agudas (EDAs) e infecciones respiratorias agudas (IRAs) sufridas durante la intervención. En conclusión, el maíz QPM mejora el estado nutricional de pre-escolares mayoritariamente leve o moderadamente desnutridos, pero no influye en la incidencia de EDAs o IRAs.
Quality protein maize (QPM), with twice the amount of tryptophan and lysine than conventional maize, has improved the nutritional status of severely malnourished children. This double-blind clinical study evaluated the impact of QPM on the growth and morbidity of mild and moderately malnourished children. In a Nicaraguan day care center, 48 children 1 to 5 years old who were malnourished (> 2 indicators with <-1 Z for weight-age, height-age or weight-height) were identified and randomly assigned to consume for 5 days/week for 3.5 months a snack prepared with QPM or conventional maize. QPM positively influenced childrens growth: weight (0.80 vs. 0.19 kg gained from baseline to endline between the QPM and conventional maize groups, respectively), height (2.02 vs. 1.23 cm in QPM vs. conventional) and Z score for weight-age (0.17 vs. -0.26 Z in QPM vs. conventional) and height-age (0.06 vs. -0.23 Z in QPM vs. conventional). When other factors that could affect growth with respect to weight, height, weight-age Z score and height-age Z score were controlled for, the intervention group (QPM>conventional) was a statistically important factor (P<0.01). The QPM snack, however, had no effect on the incidence of diarrheal episodes or respiratory infections. In conclusion, QPM improves the nutritional status of pre-school children who are mild or moderately malnourished but has no effect on the incidence of diarrheal episodes or respiratory infections.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Child, Preschool , Child Nutrition Disorders , Growth and Development , Lysine , Morbidity , Nutritional Status , Protein Deficiency , Tryptophan , Zea mays/adverse effects , Child Nutrition Sciences , PediatricsABSTRACT
Quality protein maize (QPM), with twice the amount of tryptophan and lysine than conventional maize, has improved the nutritional status of severely malnourished children. This double-blind clinical study evaluated the impact of QPM on the growth and morbidity of mild and moderately malnourished children. In a Nicaraguan day care center, 48 children 1 to 5 years old who were malnourished (> 2 indicators with < -1 Z for weight-age, height-age or weight-height) were identified and randomly assigned to consume for 5 days/week for 3.5 months a snack prepared with QPM or conventional maize. QPM positively influenced children's growth: weight (0.80 vs. 0.19 kg gained from baseline to endline between the QPM and conventional maize groups, respectively), height (2.02 vs. 1.23 cm in QPM vs. conventional) and Z score for weight-age (0.17 vs. -0.26 Z in QPM vs. conventional) and height-age (0.06 vs. -0.23 Z in QPM vs. conventional). When other factors that could affect growth with respect to weight, height, weight-age Z score and height-age Z score were controlled for, the intervention group (QPM > conventional) was a statistically important factor (P < 0.01). The QPM snack, however, had no effect on the incidence of diarrheal episodes or respiratory infections. In conclusion, QPM improves the nutritional status of pre-school children who are mild or moderately malnourished but has no effect on the incidence of diarrheal episodes or respiratory infections.
