Long-term supplementation with iron does not enhance growth in malnourished Bangladeshi children.

To evaluate the effect of long-term oral iron supplementation on growth, 250 children aged 6-71 mo were studied in a randomized double-blind controlled trial. The intervention group received 125 mg of ferrous gluconate (15 mg elemental iron) plus multivitamins (vitamins A, D and C); the comparison group received only multivitamins daily for 12 mo. Weight (kg) and height (cm) were measured every month. Eighty three percent of the children continued the treatment for one year. The weight increment over the 12-mo period was 1.35 +/- 0.65 kg (mean +/- SD) in the intervention group and 1.39 +/- 0.54 kg in the comparison group. The height increments were 6.01 +/- 1.47 and 6.18 +/- 1.58 cm in the intervention and comparison groups, respectively. Mean weight and height increments did not differ; in an analysis stratified according to different age and nutritional categories, they also did not differ between the two groups, indicating that long-term iron supplementation does not increase growth in children.     

Age-specific responsiveness of weight and length to nutritional supplementation

Evaluation of the responsiveness of weight and length to supplementary feeding shows that the two periods of greatest response coincide with weaning (ages 3-6 mo) and peak incidence and duration of diarrheal disease (ages 9-12 mo). Analyses were done for seven consecutive nonoverlapping intervals comparing children randomly assigned to receive supplemental feeding from birth to age 36 mo or to serve as control subjects. Absolute responsiveness was greatest between ages 3-6 mo; supplemented infants grew 0.61 cm more and gained 162 g more than did unsupplemented infants (p less than 0.005). Relative to rates of growth, responsiveness was greatest between ages 9 and 12 mo (the period of peak diarrheal prevalence), followed by ages 3-6 mo (the period of weaning). Responsiveness to supplementation is thus directly related to age-dependent risk patterns for malnutrition. Targeting supplementation programs to coincide with periods of high nutritional risk should maximize their effectiveness in reducing malnutrition, though caution should be exercised to avoid disruption of breast-feeding.     

Growth to age 18 months following prenatal supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid differs by maternal gravidity in Mexico

Little is known about the long-term effects of DHA intake during pregnancy. Offspring of primagravid Mexican women who received 400 mg/d DHA from wk 20 of gestation through delivery were heavier and had larger head circumferences at birth than children whose mothers received placebo; no effect was observed in offspring of multigravidae. We have followed these children (n = 739; 76% of the birth cohort), measuring length, weight, and head circumference at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 mo. At 18 mo, intent-to-treat differences between placebo and DHA, adjusted for maternal height and child sex and age at measurement, were: length, -0.21 cm (95% CI = -0.58, 0.15); weight, -0.03 kg (95% CI =-0.19, 0.13); and head circumference, 0.02 cm (95% CI = -0.18, 0.21) (all P > 0.05). There was heterogeneity of associations by maternal gravidity for weight (P < 0.08), length (P < 0.02), and head circumference (P < 0.05). Among offspring of primagravid women, length at 18 mo was increased by 0.72 cm (95% CI = 0.11, 1.33) following DHA supplementation, representing 0.26 length-for-age Z-score units; among offspring of multigravidae, the estimate was -0.13 cm (95% CI = -0.59, 0.32) (P > 0.5). Maternal DHA supplementation during the second half of gestation may enhance growth through 18 mo of children born to primagravid women.     

Vitamin A supplementation selectively improves the linear growth of indonesian preschool children: results from a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Vitamin A deficiency is associated with stunting and wasting in preschool children, but vitamin A supplementation trials have not shown a consistent effect on growth. OBJECTIVE: We examined the effect of vitamin A supplementation on height and weight increments among Indonesian preschool children. DESIGN: Data were obtained from a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial of rural Javanese children aged 6-48 mo. Children received 206000 IU vitamin A (103000 IU if aged <12 mo) or placebo every 4 mo. RESULTS: High-dose vitamin A supplementation modestly improved the linear growth of the children by 0.16 cm/4 mo. The effect was modified by age, initial vitamin A status, and breast-feeding status. Vitamin A supplementation improved height by 0.10 cm/4 mo in children aged <24 mo and by 0.22 cm/4 mo in children aged >/=24 mo. The vitamin A-supplemented children with an initial serum retinol concentration <0.35 micromol/L gained 0.39 cm/4 mo more in height and 152 g/4 mo more in weight than did the placebo group. No growth response to vitamin A was found among children with an initial serum retinol concentration >/=0.35 micromol/L. In non-breast-fed children, vitamin A supplementation improved height by 0.21 cm/4 mo regardless of age. In breast-fed children, vitamin A supplementation improved linear growth by approximately 0.21 cm/4 mo among children aged >/=24 mo, but had no significant effect on the growth of children aged <24 mo. CONCLUSION: High-dose vitamin A supplementation improves the linear growth of children with very low serum retinol and the effect is modified by age and breast-feeding.     

Zinc supplementation and psychosocial stimulation: effects on the development of undernourished Jamaican children

BACKGROUND: Undernourished children have poor levels of development that benefit from stimulation. Zinc deficiency is prevalent in undernourished children and may contribute to their poor development. OBJECTIVE: We assessed the effects of zinc supplementation and psychosocial stimulation given together or separately on the psychomotor development of undernourished children. DESIGN: This was a randomized controlled trial with 4 groups: stimulation alone, zinc supplementation alone, both interventions, and control (routine care only). Subjects were 114 children aged 9-30 mo and below -1.5 z scores of the National Center for Health Statistics weight-for-age references who were recruited from 18 health clinics. Clinics were randomly assigned to receive stimulation or not; individual children were randomly assigned to receive zinc or placebo. The stimulation program comprised weekly home visits during which play was demonstrated and maternal-child interactions were encouraged. The supplementation was 10 mg Zn as sulfate daily or placebo. Development (assessed by use of the Griffiths Mental Development Scales), length, and weight were measured at baseline and 6 mo later. Weekly morbidity histories were taken. RESULTS: Significant interactions were found between zinc supplementation and stimulation. Zinc benefited the developmental quotient only in children who received stimulation, and benefits from zinc to hand and eye coordination were greater in stimulated children. Zinc supplementation alone improved hand and eye coordination, and stimulation alone benefited the developmental quotient, hearing and speech, and performance. Zinc supplementation also reduced diarrheal morbidity but did not significantly improve growth. CONCLUSION: Zinc supplementation benefits development in undernourished children, and the benefits are enhanced if stimulation is also provided.     

补充酸奶对北京郊区学前儿童体格生长的影响

目的: 观察补充酸奶对3~5岁学前儿童体格发育和营养状况的影响。 方法: 选择北京郊区7所幼儿园的402名学龄前儿童(男217人,女185人),其身高和/或体重低于WHO推荐标准的均值。随机分为对照组和酸奶组,酸奶组每天补充1杯酸奶(125 g),每周补充5 d;对照组不补充;两组均保持正常饮食,持续9个月。每月测量儿童的身高、体重和上臂围,并记录儿童补充和出勤的情况;每3个月进行膳食调查和血生化指标检测。 结果: 酸奶组儿童膳食中钙、锌和维生素A的摄入水平较对照组明显提高,且补充9个月时血红蛋白(Hb)明显高于对照组。酸奶组儿童的身高在3 、6 和9个月内的增长值(1.90、3.83、5.43 cm)比对照组显著提高(1.77、3.64、5.24 cm),也高于WHO推荐的50 个月龄儿童参考标准。酸奶组儿童的体重在3、6和9个月内的增长值(0.70、0.98、1.42 kg)比对照组显著提高(0.49、0.80、1.20 kg),并与WHO推荐的50 个月龄儿童参考标准持平。结论: 3~5岁学龄前儿童补充9个月酸奶后,可以明显改善机体营养状况,增加体格生长速率。     

Zinc supplementation and growth

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To analyse information about the effects of zinc supplementation on the growth of infants and children, and also the effects of maternal supplementation. RECENT FINDINGS: Two (of 12) studies have recently reported significant weight increments in the zinc supplemented group, and only one study found positive effects on height. One study providing multimicronutrients, including zinc, also showed positive effects on weight. In the majority of studies, zinc supplementation lasted for 6-7 months. Two studies found that the significant positive effects of zinc on growth is not seen if zinc is provided combined with iron. SUMMARY: Supplemental zinc provided to healthy non-zinc-deficient, non-stunted individuals does not induce growth effects. Additional zinc provided to nutritionally less privileged children over a substantial period of time produced beneficial effects on height or weight in some, but not all, studies. The magnitude of the effects depends on several factors beyond the initial anthropometric and zinc status condition, which are not fully known. Growth is a complex process in which several nutritional and non-nutritional factors play roles and interact, and the extent and consequences of such interactions are still not completely understood. Maternal zinc supplementation yielded conflicting results on intrauterine growth effects.     

Infant growth patterns in the slums of Dhaka in relation to birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation, and prematurity

BACKGROUND: Relations between size and maturity at birth and infant growth have been studied inadequately in Bangladesh, where the incidence of low birth weight is high and most infants are breast-fed. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to describe infant growth patterns and their relations to birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation, and prematurity. DESIGN: A total of 1654 infants born in selected low-socioeconomic areas of Dhaka, Bangladesh, were enrolled at birth. Weight and length were measured at birth and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 mo of age. RESULTS: The infants' mean birth weight was 2516 g, with 46.4% weighing <2500 g; 70% were small for gestational age (SGA) and 17% were premature. Among the SGA infants, 63% had adequate ponderal indexes. The mean weight of the study infants closely tracked the -2 SD curve of the World Health Organization pooled breast-fed sample. Weight differences by birth weight, SGA, or preterm categories were retained throughout infancy. Mean z scores based on the pooled breast-fed sample were -2.38, -1. 72, and -2.34 at birth, 3 mo, and 12 mo. Correlation analysis showed greater plasticity of growth in the first 3 mo of life than later in the first year. CONCLUSIONS: Infant growth rates were similar to those observed among breast-fed infants in developed countries. Most study infants experienced chronic intrauterine undernourishment. Catch-up growth was limited and weight at 12 mo was largely a function of weight at birth. Improvement of birth weight is likely to lead to significant gains in infant nutritional status in this population, although interventions in the first 3 mo are also likely to be beneficial.     

Zinc supplementation improved length growth only in anemic infants in a multi-country trial of iron and zinc supplementation in South-East Asia

Data from 4 randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trials in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, the South-East Asian Multicountry Trial on Iron and Zinc supplementation in Infants (SEAMTIZI), were pooled to investigate the effects of iron and zinc supplementation infant growth. Infants (n = 2451) aged 4-6 mo old were supplemented with iron (10 mg/d) and/or zinc (10 mg/d) for 6 mo. Overall, neither iron nor zinc supplementation prevented the progressive growth faltering during infancy, which is common in many developing countries. However, infants who received zinc were less likely to be stunted at the end of the supplementation period (odds ratio 0.80; 95% CI 0.64-1.0). Boys had a 30% higher risk of being stunted at the end of the study than girls (P < 0.01). Baseline factors modified the effect of supplementation, with infants anemic at baseline (hemoglobin < 105 g/L) benefiting from zinc supplementation, with an estimated increase in height-for-age Z-score (HAZ) score of 0.17 (P < 0.01), but with no effect of zinc supplementation on growth in infants not anemic at baseline. Iron supplementation negatively affected linear growth in infants with a birth weight of >3500 g (estimated effect size, -0. 14 HAZ score; P < 0.01), but with no significant effect in infants with a lower birth weight. This study shows that blanket supplementation of infants with iron or zinc will not be beneficial to all recipients and may have adverse effects in some. Hence, interventions such as iron and zinc supplementation for infants should be restricted to subgroups in which there is a clear benefit and baseline factors should be considered and characterized before implementing new policies.     

Psychosocial stimulation improves the development of undernourished children in rural Bangladesh

Undernutrition in early childhood is associated with poor mental development and affects 45% of children in Bangladesh. Although limited evidence shows that psychosocial stimulation can reduce the deficits, no such interventions have been reported from Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Integrated Nutrition Program (BINP) has provided nutrition supplementation to undernourished children through community nutrition centers (CNCs). We added psychosocial stimulation to the treatment of undernourished children in a randomized controlled trial to assess the effects on children's development and growth and mothers' knowledge. Twenty CNCs were randomly assigned to intervention or control groups with 107 children in each group. We also studied 107 nonintervened better-nourished children from the same villages. Pre- and postintervention measurements included children's height, weight, development assessed on Bayley Scales, behavior ratings during the test, and a questionnaire on mothers' knowledge of childrearing. The intervention comprised home visits and group meetings with mothers and children for 12 mo. Intervention benefited children's mental development (4.6 +/- 2.0, P = 0.02), vocalization (0.48 +/- 0.23, P = 0.04), cooperation (0.45 +/- 0.16, P = 0.005), response-to-examiner (0.50 +/- 0.15, P = 0.001), emotional tone (0.33 +/- 0.15, P = 0.03), and mothers' knowledge (3.5 +/- 0.49, P < 0.001). At the end, undernourished controls had poorer mental (-4.6 +/- 2.0, P = 0.02) and motor (-6.6 +/- 2.2, P = 0.003) development, were more inhibited (-0.35 +/- 0.16, P = 0.03), fussier (-0.57 +/- 0.16, P < 0.001), less cooperative (-0.48 +/- 0.17, P = 0.005), and less vocal (-0.76 +/- 0.23, P = 0.001) than better-nourished children. Intervened children scored lower only in motor development (-4.4 +/- 2.3, P = 0.049). Neither group of undernourished children improved in nutritional status, indicating that treatment had no effect. In conclusion, adding child development activities to the BINP improved children's development and behavior and their mothers' knowledge; however, the lack of improvement in growth needs to be examined further.     

An energy-dense complementary food is associated with a modest increase in weight gain when compared with a fortified porridge in Malawian children aged 6-18 months

Poor complementary feeding practices are associated with stunting and growth faltering throughout the developing world. The objective was to compare the effect of using peanut-/soy-based fortified spread (FS) and corn porridge fortified with fish powder (FP) as complementary foods on growth in rural Malawian children. A total of 240 children were enrolled at the age of 6 mo and randomized to receive FS or FP. Both complementary foods provided 836 kJ/d from 6 to 9 mo of age and 1254 kJ/d from 9 to 18 mo of age. Children were followed monthly for anthropometry and fortnightly for the symptoms of fever, cough, or diarrhea until they were 18 mo old. Zn and Se status were assessed at 6 and 12 mo. The primary outcomes were the rates of weight and length gain from 6-12 mo and from 12-18 mo. Children who received FS gained 110 g more (95% CI 220 to 10) from 6-12 mo of age than children receiving FP. Weight gain did not differ between children receiving FS and FP between 12 and 18 mo of age, nor did statural growth from 6 to 12 mo or 12 to 18 mo. A total of 23% of all children were Zn deficient at 6 mo of age and this increased to 37% at 12 mo of age. Neither FS nor FP was associated with significantly improved Zn status. FS was associated with better weight gain from 6-12 mo of age and may be useful in conjunction with additional interventions to improve infant growth in the developing world.     

Iron and/or zinc supplementation did not reduce blood lead concentrations in children in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial

There is increasing interest in the interaction of nutritional deficiencies with toxic metals. Iron deficiency and elevated blood lead concentrations (PbB) reportedly occur together, and zinc also plays an important role in lead metabolism. The objective was to evaluate the effect of zinc and/or iron supplementation on PbB of children attending schools in the neighborhood of a smelter complex for 6 mo. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled field trial in 9 elementary schools located within a 3.5-km radius of a metal foundry in Torreón, Mexico. Of the 602 first-graders enrolled, 517 completed supplementation and had initial and final PbBs. Children were given either 30 mg of iron, 30 mg of zinc, both, or a placebo daily for 6 mo. Baseline and final measures included nutritional status and PbB. The overall prevalence of iron and zinc deficiencies was 12.1 and 30.3%, respectively, and 10.3% were anemic. The PbB concentration decreased in all experimental groups (P < 0.05). After controlling for initial PbB, groups administered zinc and/or iron did not have lower PbB concentrations than the placebo group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, iron supplementation of lead-exposed children significantly improved iron status but did not reduce PbBs. Zinc supplementation did not reduce PbBs independently of zinc nutritional status. Neither iron nor zinc can be recommended as the sole treatment for lead-exposed school children.     

Iron supplementation affects growth and morbidity of breast-fed infants: results of a randomized trial in Sweden and Honduras

Iron supplements are often prescribed during infancy but their benefits and risks have not been well documented. We examined whether iron supplements affect growth or morbidity of breast-fed infants. Full-term infants in Sweden (n = 101) and Honduras (n = 131) were randomly assigned to three groups at 4 mo of age: 1) placebo from 4 to 9 mo; 2) placebo from 4 to 6 mo and iron supplements [1 mg/(kg. d)] from 6 to 9 mo; or 3) iron supplements from 4 to 9 mo. All infants were exclusively or nearly exclusively breast-fed to 6 mo and continued to be breast-fed to at least 9 mo. Growth was measured monthly and morbidity data were collected every 2 wk. Among the Swedish infants, gains in length and head circumference were significantly lower in those who received iron than in those given placebo from 4 to 9 mo. The same effect on length was seen in Honduras, but only at 4-6 mo among those with initial hemoglobin (Hb) > or =110 g/L. There was no significant main effect of iron supplementation on morbidity, nor any significant interaction between iron supplementation and site, but for diarrhea (with both sites combined), there was an interaction between iron supplementation and initial Hb. Among infants with Hb < 110 g/L at 4 mo, diarrhea was less common among those given iron than in those given placebo from 4-9 mo, whereas the opposite was true among those with Hb > or = 110 g/L (P < 0.05). We conclude that routine iron supplementation of breast-fed infants may benefit those with low Hb but may present risks for those with normal Hb.     

Food supplementation with encouragement to feed it to infants from 4 to 12 months of age has a small impact on weight gain.

It is unclear whether a substantial decline in malnutrition among infants in developing countries can be achieved by increasing food availability and nutrition counseling without concurrent morbidity-reducing interventions. The study was designed to determine whether provision of generous amounts of a micronutrient-fortified food supplement supported by counseling or nutritional counseling alone would significantly improve physical growth between 4 and 12 mo of age. In a controlled trial, 418 infants 4 mo of age were individually randomized to one of the four groups and followed until 12 mo of age. The first group received a milk-based cereal and nutritional counseling; the second group monthly nutritional counseling alone. To control for the effect of twice-weekly home visits for morbidity ascertainment, similar visits were made in one of the control groups (visitation group); the fourth group received no intervention. The median energy intake from nonbreast milk sources was higher in the food supplementation group than in the visitation group by 1212 kJ at 26 wk (P < 0.001), 1739 kJ at 38 wk (P < 0.001) and 2257 kJ at 52 wk (P < 0.001). The food supplementation infants gained 250 g (95% confidence interval: 20--480 g) more weight than did the visitation group. The difference in the mean increment in length during the study was 0.4 cm (95% confidence interval: -0.1--0.9 cm). The nutritional counseling group had higher energy intakes ranging from 280 to 752 kJ at different ages (P < 0.05 at all ages) but no significant benefit on weight and length increments. Methods to enhance the impact of these interventions need to be identified.     

Wasting is associated with stunting in early childhood

The longitudinal relationship between stunting and wasting in children is poorly characterized. Instances of wasting or poor weight gain may precede linear growth retardation. We analyzed longitudinal anthropometric data for 1599 children from 8 cohort studies to determine the effect of wasting [weight-for-length Z-score (WLZ) < -2] and variability in WLZ in the first 17 mo on length-for-age Z-score (LAZ) at 18-24 mo of age. In addition, we considered the effects of change in WLZ during the previous 6-mo period on length at 18 and 24 mo. Wasting at 6-11 or 12-17 mo was associated with decreased LAZ; however, children who experienced wasting only at 0-5 mo did not suffer any long-term growth deficits compared with children with no wasting during any period. Children with greater WLZ variability (≥0.5 SD) in the first 17 mo of life were shorter [LAZ = -0.51 SD (95% CI: -0.67, -0.36 SD)] at 18-24 mo of age than children with WLZ variability <0.5. Change in WLZ in the previous 6-mo period was directly associated with greater attained length at 18 mo [0.33 cm (95% CI: 0.11, 0.54 cm)] and 24 mo [0.72 cm (95% CI: 0.52, 0.92 cm)]. Children with wasting, highly variable WLZ, or negative changes in WLZ are at a higher risk for linear growth retardation, although instances of wasting may not be the primary cause of stunting in developing countries.     

Effect of zinc supplementation on growth and body composition in children with sickle cell disease

BACKGROUND: Poor growth and delayed maturation in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) may be due, in part, to mild zinc deficiency. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine the effects of zinc supplementation on growth and body composition in children with SCD. DESIGN: Forty-two prepubertal children (20 girls and 22 boys) aged 4-10 y with SCD-SS were randomly assigned to receive 10 mg elemental Zn/d in cherry syrup (zinc group) or cherry syrup alone (control group). The 2 groups were stratified by sex and initial height status. Dietary intakes were evaluated and anthropometric, high-precision knee-height, and plasma zinc measurements were made at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 mo. Body composition was determined every 6 mo with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and z scores for anthropometric variables were computed from national reference data. Longitudinal-mixed-effects analysis was used to test for differences between the groups over the 12-mo observation period. RESULTS: Thirty-eight children completed the study. No significant differences were observed at baseline. After 12 mo, the zinc group had significantly greater mean (+/- SE) increases in height (0.66 +/- 0.29 cm/y), sitting height (0.97 +/- 0.40 cm/y), knee height (3.8 +/- 1.2 mm/y), and arm circumference z scores (0.27 +/- 0.12 cm/y). Height-for-age and weight-for-age z scores decreased significantly by 0.11 +/- 0.04 and 0.13 +/- 0.05, respectively, in the control group but did not change significantly in the zinc group. CONCLUSIONS: Prepubertal children with SCD-SS may have zinc deficiency and may benefit from zinc supplementation to improve linear growth and weight gain.     

Energy balance and the accuracy of reported energy intake in preadolescent children with cystic fibrosis

BACKGROUND: Suboptimal growth and nutritional status are common among children with cystic fibrosis (CF) and pancreatic insufficiency (PI). A better understanding of energy balance is required to improve prevention and treatment of malnutrition. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to characterize energy balance and the reporting accuracy of dietary intake in children with CF by evaluating the relations between energy intake (EI), energy expenditure (EE), fecal energy loss, nutritional status, and growth. DESIGN: The subjects were participants of a 24-mo prospective study of children 6-10 y of age with CF and PI. EE, EI, fecal energy loss, and anthropometric measures were obtained at baseline and at 24 mo. RESULTS: The children (n = 69) had suboptimal growth at baseline (x +/- SD: weight-for-age z score, -0.53 +/- 1.19; adjusted height-for-age z score, -0.67 +/- 1.06; body mass index z score, -0.29 +/- 1.12), and these variables remained suboptimal at 24 mo. The median ratios of EI to EE at baseline and 24 mo were 1.15 and 1.18, respectively, which decreased to 1.09 and 1.10, respectively, when adjusted for fecal energy loss (EI(-FL):EE). At baseline, 7% of subjects were underreporters, 64% were accurate reporters, and 23% were overreporters of energy intake; the percentages were similar at 24 mo. CONCLUSIONS: Although EI(-FL):EE ratios were higher than expected at both baseline and 24 mo, this cohort showed only age-appropriate weight gain. Self-reported dietary intake data at the individual level should be interpreted with caution, and weight gain velocity may serve as an objective measure of long-term energy balance.     

Growth and micronutrient status in children receiving a fortified complementary food

Linear growth retardation and anemia are the most prevalent nutritional problems in the world; effective interventions are urgently needed. We evaluated Ecuador's National Food Nutrition Program (PANN 2000) that included a micronutrient-fortified complementary food (FCF), Mi Papilla, in poor periurban and rural communities of Ecuador. The program is preventive and targeted to all infants and young children living in poor communities and receiving government health services. We compared dietary intake, micronutrient status, and growth over 11 mo in a cohort of children from the catchment areas of the PANN 2000 with same-age control children in nearby communities eligible to enter the program 1 y later. PANN 2000 children enrolled in the program when they were age 9-14 mo and were age 20-25 mo at the final survey. They consumed significantly more energy, protein, fat, iron, zinc, vitamin A, and calcium than control children because of their FCF consumption. Anemia, 76% in both groups at baseline, fell to 27% in PANN 2000 children but only to 44% in control children (P < 0.001). The odds of being anemic were 58% lower for PANN 2000 children (P = 0.003). The effects on linear growth and weight were limited to children who were older when the program began (12-14 mo) and were significant for weight (interaction with age, 0.38 kg; P = 0.029) and positive but not significant for length (0.66 cm; P = 0.08). An FCF, including ferrous sulfate, delivered through public health services, is highly effective in improving weight and hemoglobin and reducing anemia.     

The impact of Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis on nutritional status

We investigated the immediate impact and long-term effects of Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis on nutritional status and growth in 111 children. Mean weight change during 10 d of hospitalization was a loss of less than 1%. Follow-up median weight-for-height percentiles increased after admission (p less than 0.01). Percentile values were as follows: admission, 45th; 1 mo, 60th; 3 mo, 60th; and 6 mo, 68th. Forty-three percent of the cases were greater than 75th percentile of weight-for-height at 6 mo after disease. An additional follow-up assessment of weight-for-height indicated that 43% of a representative sample subset of 49 were still obese 1.17-5.5 y after disease. Significant differences in median concentrations of serum prealbumin were found between days 1 (128 mg/L) and 5 (199 mg/L, p less than 0.0001) and days 5 and 10 (214 mg/L, p less than 0.02). Median erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficients increased between days 1 (1.16) and 5 (1.20, p less than 0.01). The mean free erythrocyte protoporphyrin-heme ratio increased between days 5 (10.78 X 10(-6)) and 10 (14.22 X 10(-6), p less than 0.01). We conclude that there were transient adverse changes in nutritional status. Obesity appears to occur after disease.