Nutrition rehabilitation of HIV-infected and HIV-negative undernourished children utilizing spirulina.
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.
Simpore
Jacques
J
Unit of Formation and of Research in Sciences of Life and of the Earth, University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Zongo
Frederic
F
Kabore
Fatoumata
F
Dansou
Deleli
D
Bere
Augustin
A
Nikiema
Jean-Baptiste
JB
Pignatelli
Salvatore
S
Biondi
Daniela M
DM
Ruberto
Giuseppe
G
Musumeci
Salvatore
S
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*