Improvement the nutritional status of pre-school children following intervention with a supplement containing iron, zinc, copper, vitamin A, vitamin C and prebiotic

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of a vitamin and mineral fortified powder product supplemented with inulin, on the iron and vitamin A status of 110 pre-schools childrens in Viçosa, MG, Brazil. The 2 to 5-year-old children were submitted to anthropometric (weight and height), biochemical (erythrocytes, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume – MCV, mean corpuscular hemoglobin - MCH, serum iron, ferritin and serum retinol) and dietary (direct food weighing, 24 h recall, and food intake record) evaluations, at the beginning and at the end of a 45-day intervention. The supplement (30 g) was provided daily as part of the afternoon snack, diluted in 100 mL of water, 5 times/week and it supplied 30% of the recommended daily doses of iron, zinc, copper and vitamins A and C. Dietary and biochemical data was compared by the Wilcoxon test, and anthropometric data by the paired t-test. Values of z-scores for weight and height, erythrocytes, hemoglobin, MCV, MCH and ferritin were significantly higher after intervention; no change was observed in serum retinol. The prebiotic-containing supplement significantly increased the intake of energy, macro and micronutrients, and was effective in improving the iron and anthropometric status.

Copper and Copper/Zn Ratio in a Series of Children with Chronic Diseases: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…These results are not surprising because Castro et al ( 2017) reported a strong association between serum Cu levels with height or weight [63], and Laitinen et al, in a series of 3415 Finnish children and adolescents, concluded that Cu levels were correlated with stature between the ages of 3 to 18 [64]. What is more, a study conducted on 100 school children between 10 and 14 years of age showed that there was a significant difference among different classifications of height-for-age with respect to the Cu/Zn ratio.…”

Clinical Uses of Fructooligosaccharides for Gastrointestinal health in the Pediatric Population

“…Castro et al investigated the effect of 30 g of inulin with Vitamins A and C and minerals such as iron, zinc, and copper among 2-5-year-old children. At the end of the study, values for z-scores for weight and height, erythrocytes, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and ferritin were significantly higher after intervention [34]. In another study, children with celiac disease were given OF-supplemented inulin at 10 g per day.…”

Prebiotics, Probiotics, and Postbiotics in the Prevention and Treatment of Anemia

“…In a study by Castro et al, it was observed that in children who were supplemented with iron, zinc, copper, vitamin A, vitamin C and inulin for 45 days, five times a week, the values of hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH and ferritin improved. The authors suggest that one of the reasons may be the addition of inulin [ 46 ]. However, in the case of anemia, not all studies confirm the role of inulin in increasing iron absorption.…”