[ACCEPTANCE OF PULP FRUIT BEVERAGES FORTIFIED WITH FERROUS FUMARATE; AN ALTERNATIVE SUPPLEMENT FOR A HEALTH PROGRAM]

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Public Health
• Pediatric Nutrition

Background:

• Undernutrition and nutrient deficiencies are significant global public health issues, particularly prevalent in rural Mexico.
• Dietary supplements offer a viable solution to address these nutritional deficits.
• Successful implementation requires supplements to be accessible and acceptable to the target population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a flavored multivitamin supplement (MVS) tailored for the Health and Nutrition Program for Indigenous People (PSNPI-Mexico).
• To assess the acceptance of this novel MVS among infants aged 6 to 24 months in both rural and urban settings.
• To provide a more palatable and effective supplement option for young children in Mexico.

Main Methods:

• Developed three distinct flavors of MVS, ensuring vitamin and mineral content aligned with PSNPI-Mexico guidelines.
• Evaluated infant acceptance using a 'scale faces' method and quantified consumption in the 6-12 month age group.
• Analyzed acceptance variations based on age, gender, and location (urban vs. rural) using chi-squared tests.

Main Results:

• The developed flavored multivitamin supplement (MVS) was found to be a superior alternative to the supplement currently utilized by the PSNPI-Mexico program.
• Infant acceptance was systematically evaluated across different age groups, genders, and geographical locations.

Conclusions:

• The flavored MVS presents a promising and improved alternative for nutritional supplementation within the PSNPI-Mexico program.
• The study highlights the importance of flavor and acceptance in the efficacy of dietary supplements for young children.
• Further research may explore long-term impacts and broader implementation strategies.