title: Effect of early, short-term supplementation on weight and linear growth of 4-7-mo-old infants in developing countries: a four-country randomized trial.
abstract: The effect of supplementation on growth was tested by means of four similar controlled randomized trials in the Congo (n = 120), Senegal (n = 110), Bolivia (n = 127), and New Caledonia (n = 90). Four-month-old infants were randomly allocated to supplement or control groups. A cereal-based precooked porridge was offered twice daily for 3 mo and consumption was monitored. Both groups were free to eat local food. At 7 mo of age, all infants were still breast-fed in the Congo, Senegal, and Bolivia compared with 47% in New Caledonia. Mean daily consumption of the supplement varied among countries (558-790 kJ/d). Mean length at 4 mo was lowest in Bolivia, higher in Senegal and the Congo, and near the National Center for Health Statistics reference in New Caledonia. The mean 4-7 mo length increment was 0.48 cm higher for supplemented than for control infants in Senegal (P < 0.05), whereas weight increments did not differ. No significant effect was found in the other countries.
authors.affiliation: ORSTOM, Institut Français de Recherche Scientifique pour le Développement en Coopération, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Simondon
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gartner
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cornu
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Massamba
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: San Miguel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ly
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Missotte
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Simondon
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Traissac
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Delpeuch
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maire
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D001838:Bolivia; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003223:Congo; D003906:Developing Countries; D002523:Edible Grain; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D008297:Male; D009510:New Caledonia; D012675:Senegal; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology