title: Effects of multiple herb formula SEC-22 supplementation on dietary intake, picky eating behaviors, and growth indices in thin preschool children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Thin children may have insufficient intake of energy and nutrients, resulting in reduced immune function and growth. This study aimed to identify the effects of multiple herb formula SEC-22 supplementation on growth, dietary changes, and picky eating behaviors in thin children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted on 79 children aged 2-5 years with poor appetites, BMI percentile < 25, and without any illness. Subjects were given either SEC-22 (n = 35) or placebo (n = 44) for 2 months and followed for an additional 2 months. Three-day dietary records, questionnaires on picky eating behaviors, and anthropometric measures were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Energy, carbohydrate intake, and feeding difficulty improved in both groups during the intervention period. However, changes were maintained only in the SEC-22 group after 2 months of follow-up post-supplementation. 'Frequency of trying to feed' was improved in the SEC-22 group compared to the placebo group after the first month of follow-up (P < 0.05). Intakes of potassium and thiamine were improved in the SEC-22 group compared to the placebo group after the first month of intervention (P < 0.05). 'Frequency of food reward', eating amount, and intakes of carbohydrate, potassium, and vitamin C showed significant improvement compared to the placebo group after the second month of follow-up (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that SEC-22 supplementation can improve parental feeding difficulty resulting from insufficient eating amount or picky eating as well as increase nutrient intake in thin children. Although these improvements were observable at least 2 months after supplementation, effects beyond this time frame need to be confirmed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea. ; BOM Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors.forename: Kijoon
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: BOM Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors.forename: Joonsuk
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors.forename: Hee Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Paik
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea.
authors.forename: Jihyun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: 3rd department of Internal Medicine, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung-Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Bongha
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Daejeon University, 62 Daehak-ro, Dong-gu, Daejeon 300-716, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Shim
keywords: Underweight; feeding difficulty; herb extracts; picky eating; thin children