title: Bovine colostrum in the management of nonorganic failure to thrive: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Chemical Injuries, Baqiyatallah Medical Sciences University, Tehran, Iran. yunespanahi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Yunes
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Panahi
authors.forename: Gholamhossein
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Falahi
authors.forename: Morteza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Falahpour
authors.forename: Yashar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Moharamzad
authors.forename: Mohammad Rabbani
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Khorasgani
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beiraghdar
authors.forename: Mohammad Mehdi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Naghizadeh
mesh_terms: 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