title: Randomized controlled trial to compare growth parameters and nutrient adequacy in children with picky eating behaviors who received nutritional counseling with or without an oral nutritional supplement.
abstract: In this study, changes in growth parameters and nutrient intake were compared in Chinese children (ages 30-60 months) with picky eating (PE) behaviors and weight-for-height ≤25th percentile, who were randomized to receive nutrition counseling alone (NC; n = 76) or with a nutritional milk supplement (NC + NS; n = 77) for 120 days. Increases in weight-for-height z-scores were significantly greater in the NC + NS group at days 30 and 90 and over the entire study period (all P < 0.05), but not at day 120. Increases in weight-for-age z-scores were significantly greater in the NC + NS group at day 90 (P = 0.025) and over the entire study period (P = 0.046). Mean intakes of energy, protein, carbohydrate, docosahexaenoic acid, arachidonic acid, calcium, phosphorous, iron, zinc, and vitamins A, C, D, E, and B6 were significantly higher in the NC + NS group at days 60 and 120 (all P < 0.01). Thus, in young children with PE behaviors, nutritional supplementation given as an adjunct to NC resulted in greater improvements in nutrient intake compared with NC alone. Growth parameters differed between groups at several timepoints during the study, but not at day 120.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Health Care, Xinhua Hospital, affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health Care, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Meiling
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health Care, Jinan Children's Hospital, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Dongmei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Ting Fan
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health Care, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Research and Development, Nestlé Nutrition, King of Prussia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Hays
authors.affiliation: Wyeth Nutritional (China) Company Ltd., Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.affiliation: Wyeth (Hong Kong) Holding Company Ltd., Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Wing Man
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Research and Development, Nestlé Nutrition, King of Prussia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Northington
authors.affiliation: Research and Development, Nestlé Nutrition, King of Prussia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Donna L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Terry
authors.affiliation: Research and Development, Nestlé Nutrition, King of Prussia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Manjiang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yao
keywords: eating behavior; growth; nutrient intake; picky eating; preschool children