Malnutrition and human function: a comparison of conclusions from the INCAP and nutrition CRSP studies

Abstract

The overall objective of both the Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama (INCAP) studies and the Nutrition Collaborative Research Support Program (CRSP) was to determine if marginal malnutrition affects human function. The conclusions from the two studies were consistent, notably that growth stunting occurs early in life and is accompanied by functional impairments. These consequences of early malnutrition persist later in life. The comparison of INCAP and Nutrition CRSP results also illustrates that the Guatemalan children were more malnourished and stunted than those in Kenya, Mexico or Egypt and that this greater degree of stunting occurs before 18 months of age. Even the Atole did not bring the average size of supplemented children in Guatemala up to those of the unsupplemented children in the CRSP populations. It is also likely that their functional potential was not realized fully by supplementation. The CRSP studies provide evidence of multiple micronutrient deficiencies associated with poor growth and function and it is probable that these associations exist in Guatemala as well. The overall conclusion is that our attention should be directed to determining the adequacy of micronutrient status in the perinatal period and to the development of approaches that prevent early growth failure.

PIP: This study compares data between the Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama studies and the Nutrition Collaborative Research Support Program (CRSP) in order to determine if marginal malnutrition affects human function. Findings from both studies were consistent and revealed that growth stunting occurs early in life and was accompanied by functional impairments in which these consequences persists later in life. The comparative studies also illustrates that Guatemalan children were more malnourished and stunted compared to those in Kenya, Mexico, or Egypt and that this greater degree of stunting occurred before 18 months of age. In addition, CRSP studies provide evidence of multiple micronutrient deficiencies associated with poor growth and function and it was probable that these associations exist in Guatemala as well. The overall conclusion is that attention should be directed in determining the adequacy of micronutrient status in the perinatal period and to the development of approaches that prevent early growth failure.