Providing lipid‐based nutrient supplements does not affect developmental milestones among Malawian children. (18th November 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mangani, Charles; Cheung, Yin Bun; Maleta, Kenneth; Phuka, John; Thakwalakwa, Chrissie; Dewey, Kathryn; Manary, Mark; Puumalainen, Taneli; Ashorn, Per
• Is Part Of: Acta pædiatrica. Volume 103:Number 1(2014:Jan.)
• Page Start: e17
• Page End: e26
• Publication Date: 2013-11-18
• Subjects: Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Pediatrics; 618.92
• DOI: 10.1111/apa.12443
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0803-5253

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="apa12443-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="apa12443-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>To assess whether using lipid‐based nutrient supplements (LNS) to complement the diets of infants and young children affected when they achieved selected developmental milestones.</p> </sec> <sec id="apa12443-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>In rural Malawi, 840 6‐month‐old healthy infants were enrolled to a randomised trial. Control participants received no supplements, others were provided with milk‐containing LNS, soy‐containing LNS or corn–soy blend (CSB) for 12 months. Outcomes were the age at which they achieved key milestone: motor (walking with assistance, standing and walking alone, running), social (drinking from a cup and eating by themself) and language (saying single comprehensible words and waving goodbye).</p> </sec> <sec id="apa12443-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The mean age at which the subjects walked with assistance was 42.5, 42.3, 42.7 and 43.2 weeks in the control, milk‐LNS, soy‐LNS and CSB groups, respectively (p = 0.748). There were also no significant differences in the mean age at standing alone (45.0, 44.9, 45.1 and 46.3 weeks), walking alone (54.6, 55.1, 55.3, 56.5 weeks), running (64.6, 63.7, 64.8, 65.9 weeks) or any other social or language milestones (each p > 0.10).</p> </sec> <sec id="apa12443-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>The findings do not support a hypothesis that providing tested formulations and doses of micronutrient‐fortified LNS or CSB would have an impact on when young children in rural Malawi achieved selected developmental milestones.</p> </sec> </abstract>