Impact of multi-micronutrient supplementation on growth and morbidity of HIV-infected South African children

Poor growth, micronutrient deficiencies and episodes of diarrhea and respiratory infections occur frequently in HIV-infected children. We investigated whether multi-micronutrient supplementation would improve the growth performance and reduce the number of episodes of diarrhea and/or of respiratory symptoms in HIV-infected children. In a double-blind randomized trial, HIV-infected South African children aged 4–24 months (n = 201) were assigned to receive multi-micronutrient supplements or placebo daily for six months. The children were assessed for respiratory symptoms or diarrhea bi-weekly; weights and heights were measured monthly. In total, 121 children completed the six month follow up study period (60%). A total of 43 children died; 27 of them had received supplements. This difference in mortality was not statistically significant (p = 0.12). Weight-for-height Z-scores improved significantly (p <0.05) among children given supplements compared with those given placebo (0.40 (0.09–0.71)) versus -0.04 (-0.39–0.31) (mean (95% CI)). Height-for-age Z-scores did not improve in both treatment groups. The number of monthly episodes of diarrhea in the placebo group (0.36 (0.26–0.46)) was higher (p = 0.09) than in the supplement group (0.25 (0.17–0.33)) and the number of monthly episodes of respiratory symptoms was significantly higher (p <0.05) among children on placebos (1.01 (0.83–1.79)) than those on supplements (0.66 (0.52–0.80)). Multi-micronutrient supplements significantly improved wasting and reduced the number of episodes of diarrhea and respiratory symptoms.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	van Raaij, J.M.A., de Villiers, F.P.R., Kok, F.J.
Format:	Article/Letter to editor biblioteca
Language:	English
Subjects:	appetite, childhood, disease, infants born, metaanalysis, mortality, mothers, randomized controlled-trial, vitamin-a supplementation, zinc,
Online Access:	https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/impact-of-multi-micronutrient-supplementation-on-growth-and-morbi
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