[Effects of complementary food supplements on respiratory infections and diarrhea of infants and young children in poor rural].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of complementary food supplements with protein and multi-micronutrients on respiratory infections and diarrhea of infants and yound children in poor rural China.


METHODS
In 5 poor county of Gansu Province, 1478 children aged 4 - 12 months were enrolled and divided into two groups. In addition to the usual home-made complementary food, all the children were fed one package of either formula I or formula II per day, usual home-made complementary food, all the children were fed one package of either formula I or formula II per day, protein and micronutrient were supplemented in formula I group. Every 6 months, a massive dose of vitamin A was protein and micronutrient were supplemented in formula I group. Every 6 months, a massive dose of vitamin A was supplemented to all children, weight and height measurements have been done every 3 months until they were 24 months old.


RESULTS
During the follow-up of 12 months supplementation, prevalence of respiratory infection and diarrhea reduce significantly compared with baseline survey (P < 0.0001), there is no difference between the two group at the same survey, lasting time of respiratory infection is shortened in formula I group, and medical cost of disease in the two groups Complementary food supplements, with large-dose vitamin A, reduce prevalence of reduced significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
Complementary food supplements, with large-dose vitamin A, reduce prevalence of respiratory infections, diarrhea and medical cost of those diseases.
Yu
Dongmei
D
Institute for Nutrition and Food Safety, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China.
Wang
Yuying
Y
Wang
Fuzhen
F
D002657:Child Development; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005526:Food, Formulated; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D008297:Male; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012423:Rural Health; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D014801:Vitamin A