title: Nutrition rehabilitation of HIV-infected and HIV-negative undernourished children utilizing spirulina.
abstract: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of an alimentary integrator composed of spirulina (Spirulina platensis; SP), produced at the Centre Médical St Camille of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on the nutritional status of undernourished HIV-infected and HIV-negative children. We compared two groups of children: 84 were HIV-infected and 86 were HIV-negative. The duration of the study was 8 weeks. Anthropometric and haematological parameters allowed us to appreciate both the nutritional and biological effect of SP supplement to traditional meals. Rehabilitation with SP shows on average a weight gain of 15 and 25 g/day in HIV-infected and HIV-negative children, respectively. The level of anaemia decreased during the study in all children, but recuperation was less efficient among HIV-infected children. In fact 81.8% of HIV-negative undernourished children recuperated as opposed to 63.6% of HIV-infected children (Z: 1.70 (95% CI -0.366, -0.002, p = 0.088)). Our results confirm that SP is a good food supplement for undernourished children. In particular, rehabilitation with SP also seems to correct anaemia and weight loss in HIV-infected children, and even more quickly in HIV-negative undernourished children.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Formation and of Research in Sciences of Life and of the Earth, University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Simpore
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zongo
authors.forename: Fatoumata
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kabore
authors.forename: Deleli
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dansou
authors.forename: Augustin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bere
authors.forename: Jean-Baptiste
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Nikiema
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pignatelli
authors.forename: Daniela M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Biondi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ruberto
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Musumeci
mesh_terms: D002050:Burkina Faso / Q000453:epidemiology; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000502:physiology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D019936:Probiotics; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*