Growth Patterns of 11-29-Month-Old Children Consuming Young Child Formula: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized, Controlled Study
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-1-2024
Abstract
Introduction: The impact of young child formula (YCF) consumption on children's growth, particularly under suboptimal conditions, has scarcely been studied. In the current study, weight-for-age (WAZ), length-for-age (LAZ), and BMI-for-age (BAZ) z-score development was evaluated in children from five different countries (n = 668) who participated in a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Methods: The children (1-3 years old) were randomized to one of two intervention YCFs (with presence or absence of prebiotics and n-3 LCPUFAs) during 52 weeks of intervention. Additional stratified analyses evaluated the growth patterns of underweight, overweight, or stunted children. Results: No apparent differences in anthropometric measurements were observed between the intervention groups. In both YCF intervention groups, mean WAZ, LAZ and BAZ development was indicative of adequate growth during the intervention period. Stratified analyses showed stable WAZ and BAZ development among children with a healthy weight or overweight at baseline. Among underweight and stunted children, normalization in mean weight (similar to 1 SD) and length (similar to 0.8 SD) gain, respectively, was observed. Conclusion: The current study suggests that consumption of YCF, either or not containing prebiotics and n-3 LCPUFAs, is associated with adequate growth among young children. This association may depend on the child's baseline nutritional status. Future studies to assess the potential role of YCF in supporting adequate weight/length gain among children at risk for undernutrition are warranted.
Keywords
Toddler, Growth adequacy, Overweight, Stunting, Young child formula
Divisions
paediatrics
Funders
Danone Nutricia
Publication Title
Annals of Nutrition and Metobolism
Volume
80
Issue
4
Publisher
Karger
Publisher Location
ALLSCHWILERSTRASSE 10, CH-4009 BASEL, SWITZERLAND