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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2014 May;28(3):245-54.
doi: 10.1111/ppe.12117. Epub 2014 Mar 13.

Effect of supplementation with a lipid-based nutrient supplement on the micronutrient status of children aged 6-18 months living in the rural region of Intibucá, Honduras

Anna M Siega-Riz  1 , Yaniré Estrada Del Campo, Alan Kinlaw, Gregory A Reinhart, Lindsay H Allen, Setareh Shahab-Ferdows, Jeff Heck, Chirayath M Suchindran, Margaret E Bentley
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effect of supplementation with a lipid-based nutrient supplement on the micronutrient status of children aged 6-18 months living in the rural region of Intibucá, Honduras

Anna M Siega-Riz et al. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2014 May.

Abstract

Background: Lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) have been effective in the treatment of acute malnutrition among children. We evaluated the use of LNS supplementation for improving the micronutrient status of young children.

Methods: A 12-month randomised controlled trial was conducted among children aged 6-18 months living in Intibucá, Honduras. Communities (n = 18) were randomised into clusters matched by poverty indicators (9 intervention, n = 160 and 9 controls, n = 140). Intervention participants received LNS. All children received food vouchers and nutrition education. Primary outcomes included measures of micronutrient status: at baseline, 6 and 12 months' blood were collected for assessment of folate, iron, zinc, riboflavin, and vitamin B12 status; haemoglobin was measured every 3 months; and dietary and anthropometry collected monthly. Longitudinal analyses were based on intent to treat and LNS adherence. Generalised estimating equations were used in the estimation of generalised linear regression models specified for the data.

Results: At 6-month follow-up, children in the intervention group had a lower proportion classified as deficient for B12 (43.6%) compared with the control (67.7%; P = 0.03). The intervention group had a higher mean concentration for folate at 6 months (P = 0.06), and improvements continued through 12 months for folate (P = 0.002) and vitamin A deficiency (P = 0.03). This pattern of results, with improved significance, remained in subanalysis based on LNS adherence.

Conclusion: These data demonstrate that LNS improved select micronutrient status in young non-malnourished Honduran children.

Keywords: Honduras; child undernutrition; lipid-based nutrient supplements; micronutrients; prevention; randomised controlled trial.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Attrition rates based on completed blood specimen collection.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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