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Effects of bovine serum concentrate, with or without supplemental micronutrients, on the growth, morbidity, and micronutrient status of young children in a low-income, peri-urban Guatemalan community

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 62, pages 39–50 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To determine the effects of dietary supplements containing bovine serum concentrate (BSC, a source of immunoglobulins) and/or multiple micronutrients (MMN) on children's growth velocity, rates of common infections, and MN status.

Design:

Randomized, controlled, community-based intervention trial.

Setting:

Low-income, peri-urban Guatemalan community.

Subjects:

Children aged 6–7 months initially.

Interventions:

Children received one of four maize-based dietary supplements daily for 8 months, containing: (1) BSC, (2) whey protein concentrate (WPC, control group), (3) WPC+MMN, or (4) BSC+MMN.

Results:

There were no significant differences in growth or rates of morbidity by treatment group. Children who received MMN had lower rates of anemia and (in the group that received WPC+MMN) less of a decline in serum ferritin than those who did not, but there were no differences in other biochemical indicators of MN status by treatment group.

Conclusions:

MMN supplementation reduced anemia and iron deficiency in this population, but the MMN content and source of protein in the supplements did not affect other indicators of MN status, growth or morbidity.

Sponsorship:

Funding was provided by LG Laboratories (Ames, Iowa), which produces the bovine serum concentrate used in this study. The members of the research team have no financial involvement in this company.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by LG Laboratories (Ames, Iowa), which produces the BSC used in this study. Additional funding was obtained from the Micronutrient Initiative.

We thank Mr Humberto Mendez for his assistance with data entry and processing; Ms Carolina Martinez for ferritin analyses; Dr Marjorie Haskell for determinations of vitamins A and E; and Dr Daniel López de Romaña for zinc and copper analyses. We also gratefully acknowledge Ms Lilian Navas and Virginia López for supervising the field work and the local agency, UPAVIM, for providing us with space for our field office within their headquarters in the study community.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Micronutrient Initiative, Africa

    F Bégin

  2. Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama, Guatemala City, Guatemala

    M-C Santizo & B Torún

  3. Program in International and Community Nutrition and Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA, USA

    J M Peerson & K H Brown

Authors
  1. F Bégin
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  2. M-C Santizo
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  3. J M Peerson
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  4. B Torún
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  5. K H Brown
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to K H Brown.

Additional information

Guarantors: F Bégin and KH Brown.

Contributors: FB was responsible for the study design, field supervision, interpretation of results, and preparation of the manuscript. M-CS was responsible for field supervision. JMP was responsible for the study design and analysis of data. BT was responsible for the study design, field supervision, and interpretation for results. KHB was responsible for the study design, interpretation of results, and preparation of the manuscript.

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Bégin, F., Santizo, MC., Peerson, J. et al. Effects of bovine serum concentrate, with or without supplemental micronutrients, on the growth, morbidity, and micronutrient status of young children in a low-income, peri-urban Guatemalan community. Eur J Clin Nutr 62, 39–50 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602682

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