High fat versus high carbohydrate nutritional supplementation: a one year trial in stunted rural Gambian children.
OBJECTIVE
The study tests the hypothesis that a low daily fat intake may induce a negative fat balance and impair catch-up growth in stunted children between 3 and 9y of age.


METHODS
Randomized case-control study.


METHODS
Three rural villages of the West Kiang District, The Gambia.


METHODS
Three groups of 30 stunted but not wasted children (height for age z-score < or = -2.0, weight for height z-score > or = -2.0) 3-9 y of age were selected by anthropometric survey. Groups were matched for age, sex, village, degree of stunting and season.


METHODS
Two groups were randomly assigned to be supplemented five days a week for one year with either a high fat (n = 29) or a high carbohydrate biscuit (n = 30) each containing approximately 1600 kJ. The third group was a non supplemented control group (n = 29). Growth, nutritional status, dietary intake, resting energy expenditure and morbidity were compared.


RESULTS
Neither the high fat nor the high carbohydrate supplement had an effect on weight or height gain. The high fat supplement did slightly increase adipose tissue mass. There was no effect of supplementation on resting energy expenditure or morbidity. In addition, the annual growth rate was not associated with a morbidity score.


CONCLUSIONS
Results show that neither a high fat nor a high carbohydrate supplement given during 12 months to stunted Gambian children induced catch-up growth. The authors suggest that an adverse effect of the environment on catch-up growth persists despite the nutritional interventions.
Krähenbühl
J D
JD
Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
Schutz
Y
Y
Jéquier
E
E
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D001823:Body Composition; D001827:Body Height; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002149:Energy Intake; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D005714:Gambia; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000178:diet therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D015430:Weight Gain
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats