Bovine colostrum in the management of nonorganic failure to thrive: a randomized clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of oral bovine colostrum in the management of nonorganic failure to thrive (FTT).


METHODS
In a randomized clinical trial, 120 children (1-10 years of age) of either sex with mild or moderate nonorganic FTT were divided into 2 groups. Both groups were matched with regard to age, sex, weight, and height. One group (control) received routine treatments for FTT and the other group (case), besides routine treatments, received supplementary bovine colostrum at the dose of 40 mg . kg . day for a 3-month period. Following the initial visit, subsequent visits were completed following 1, 2, and 3 months of supplementation. For quantitative measurements, Waterlow I (height for age) and Gomez (weight for age) indices were used.


RESULTS
The mean value of Gomez index in the case group (81.72) was significantly higher than the control group (77.12) at the end of the third month of supplementation (P = 0.003). Such a difference was not reported based on Waterlow I index between the case and control groups (92.91 vs 91.71; P = 0.094). According to Gomez index 12 patients (20%) who received colostrum became healthy at the end of the third month, which was significantly higher than the control group (2 cases, 3.3%); P = 0.006.


CONCLUSIONS
Bovine colostrum supplementation for a 3-month period is a useful method without any side effects, in addition to known medical and psychological treatments, to increase the weight of children with nonorganic FTT.
Panahi
Yunes
Y
Research Center of Chemical Injuries, Baqiyatallah Medical Sciences University, Tehran, Iran. yunespanahi@yahoo.com
Falahi
Gholamhossein
G
Falahpour
Morteza
M
Moharamzad
Yashar
Y
Khorasgani
Mohammad Rabbani
MR
Beiraghdar
Fatemeh
F
Naghizadeh
Mohammad Mehdi
MM
D000818:Animals; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002417:Cattle; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003126:Colostrum; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005183:Failure to Thrive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy