title: Yacon effects in immune response and nutritional status of iron and zinc in preschool children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of yacon flour on iron and zinc nutritional status and immune response biomarkers in preschool children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preschool children ages 2 to 5 y were selected from two nurseries and were placed into a control group (n = 58) or a yacon group (n = 59). The yacon group received yacon flour in preparations for 18 wk at a quantity to provide 0.14 g of fructooligosaccharides/kg of body weight daily. Anthropometric parameters were measured before and after the intervention and dietary intake was measured during the intervention. To assess iron and zinc status, erythrograms, serum iron, ferritin, and plasma, and erythrocyte zinc were evaluated. Systemic immune response was assessed by the biomarkers interleukin IL-4, IL-10, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alfa (TNF-α). Intestinal immune response was analyzed by secretory IgA (sIgA) levels before and after the intervention. Statistical significance was evaluated using the paired t test (α = 5%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before and after the study, the children presented a high prevalence of overweight and an inadequate dietary intake of zinc and fiber. The yacon group presented with lower hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration at the end of the study (P < 0.05). Erythrocyte zinc was reduced in both groups at the end of the study (P < 0.05). Yacon intake increased the serum levels of IL-4 and fecal sIgA (P < 0.05). The control group had lower serum TNF-α after the study period (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Yacon improved intestinal immune response but demonstrated no effect on the nutritional status of iron and zinc in preschool children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Center for Agrarian Sciences, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Alto Universitario, Alegre, ES, Brazil; Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Viçosa, PH Holfs, Viçosa, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: mgvaztostes@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Maria das Graças
authors.initials: Md
authors.lastname: Vaz-Tostes
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Center for Agrarian Sciences, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Alto Universitario, Alegre, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mirelle Lomar
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Viana
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Center for Agrarian Sciences, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Alto Universitario, Alegre, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grancieri
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Center for Agrarian Sciences, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Alto Universitario, Alegre, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tereza Cecília dos Santos
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Luz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Center for Agrarian Sciences, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Alto Universitario, Alegre, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Heberth de
authors.initials: Hd
authors.lastname: Paula
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Center for Agrarian Sciences, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Alto Universitario, Alegre, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rogério Graça
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Pedrosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Center for Agrarian Sciences, Federal University of Espirito Santo, Alto Universitario, Alegre, ES, Brazil; Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Viçosa, PH Holfs, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Neuza Maria Brunoro
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D019659:Asteraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005433:Flour / Q000032:analysis; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000378:metabolism; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D050177:Overweight / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D056692:Prebiotics / Q000032:analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D006454:Hemoglobins; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D056692:Prebiotics; C116580:fructooligosaccharide; D005293:Ferritins; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Immune response; Nutritional status; Prebiotics; Yacon