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Efficacy of an MFGM‐enriched Complementary Food in Diarrhea, Anemia, and Micronutrient Status in Infants

2011; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Volume: 53; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1097/mpg.0b013e318225cdaf

1536-4801

Nelly Zavaleta, Anne Staudt Kvistgaard, Gitte Graverholt, Graciela Respicio, Henry Guija-Guerra, Norma Valencia, Bo Lönnerdal,

Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of a milkfat globule membrane (MFGM)–enriched protein fraction in a complementary food, on diarrhea, anemia, and micronutrient status. Subjects and Methods: A randomized, double‐blind controlled design to study 550 infants, 6 to 11 months old, who received daily for 6 months a complementary food (40 g/day) with the protein source being either the MFGM protein fraction or skim milk proteins (control). Health and nutritional status of infants were examined monthly in the outpatient clinic; product intake, food patterns, and diarrhea morbidity were assessed by home visits twice per week. Hemoglobin and micronutrient status were measured at 0 and 6 months of intervention. Results are presented as the entire group and as 6 to 8 and 9 to 11 months subgroups. Results: A total of 499 infants completed the study. Global prevalence of diarrhea was 3.84% and 4.37% in the MFGM group and control group, respectively ( P < 0.05). Consumption of the MFGM protein fraction reduced episodes of bloody diarrhea (odds ratio 0.54; 95% confidence interval 0.31–0.93, P = 0.025) adjusting for anemia and potable water facilities as covariates. There were no differences between groups in anemia, serum ferritin, zinc, or folate. Conclusions: Addition of an MFGM‐enriched protein fraction to complementary food had beneficial effects on diarrhea in infants and may thus help to improve the health of vulnerable populations.