Complementary food supplementation with a small-quantity of lipid-based nutrient supplements prevents stunting in 6–12-month-old infants in rural West Madura Island, Indonesia

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Author : Nurul Muslihah, Ali Khomsan, Dodik Briawan, Hadi Riyadi
Keyword : complementary food, SQ-LNS, biscuit, stunting, Indonesia
DOI : 10.6133/apjcn.122016.s9
Issue : Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2016;25(Suppl 1):S36-S42
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Abstract

Background and Objectives: Stunting during childhood is a common public health problem in Indonesia. Complementary food supplementation with a small quantity of lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNSs) can promote growth and prevent undernutrition. This study investigated the effects of the daily provision of SQ-LNSs and biscuits on linear growth and reduction in the incidence of stunting among infants in rural Indonesia. Meth- ods and Study Design: A 6-month, non-randomised, controlled trial was conducted on 168 infants who received 20 g of SQ-LNSs, 3 pieces of biscuits, or no intervention. The outcome was length gain and incidence of stunting (length-age-z score (LAZ) <−2SD) during a 6-month follow-up. Results: After the 6-month intervention, the ad- justed length gain and change in the LAZ (8.57 cm and −0.09 z-score unit, respectively) were higher in the SQ- LNS group than in the control (7.15 cm and −0.87 z-score unit, respectively) and biscuit groups (7.79 cm and −0.46 z-score unit, respectively; p<0.01). The rate of length gain was significantly higher in the SQ-LNS group (1.43 cm/month; 95% CI: 1.12–1.26) than in the biscuit (1.29 cm/month, 95% CI: 1.23–1.36) and control groups (1.19 cm/month, 95% CI: 1.12–1.26; p<0.01). At the end study, the incidence of stunting in SQ-LNS group was lower (1.8%) than in the biscuit group (8.5%) and control group (14.6%). In the SQ-LNS group, the relative risk (RR) of stunting was 0.35 and in the biscuit group (0.94). Conclusions: SQ-LNSs improved linear growth and reducing the incidence of stunting over 6-months intervention.

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