Supplementing fortified soybean powder reduced anemia in infants and young children aged 6-24 months

Abstract

Ying Yang Bao (YYB), a soybean powder-based complementary food supplement, has been widely used in infants and young children (IYC) for nutrition improvement in poor rural regions in China. This study aims to assess the nutritional effect of YYB on anemia and growth status of IYC between the ages of 6 and 24 months using systematic review and meta-analysis. In this meta-analysis, structured electronic searches were conducted using Medline, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Internet datasets. Inclusion criterion, quality assessment, and data extraction were performed by 2 independent reviewers. Data-including hemoglobin concentration; anemia rate; and z scores of height for age, weight for age, and weight for height-were extracted and then analyzed using RevMan 5 software. Seventeen studies on YYB intervention, which showed significantly higher hemoglobin concentration (P < .01) and lower anemia rate (P < .01) in the intervention group compared to the control group, were included. In before-after studies, the prevalence of stunting (P < .01), underweight (P < .01), and wasting (P < .01) significantly decreased, whereas the z scores of weight for height increased (P < .01). However, no significant effect was observed on the z scores of height for age and weight for age. The hemoglobin concentration was higher after using YYB, and the prevalence of anemia, stunting, underweight, and wasting of infants and young children decreased in poor rural regions in China. Based on this meta-analysis, it appears that more randomized controlled trials for YYB intervention should be conducted and the mechanisms explored in future research.

Keywords: Anemia; Infants and young children; Meta-analysis; Nutrition intervention; z score.