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The Effect of Synbiotic Supplementation on Growth Parameters in Mild to Moderate FTT Children Aged 2-5 Years
Majid Aflatoonian1, Abbas Taghavi Ardakani2, Seyedeh Zalfa Modarresi3
1Department of Pediatrics, Growth Disorders of Children Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Insights
Synbiotic supplementation significantly improved weight and BMI in children with failure to thrive (FTT). This 30-day study found no significant effect on height, suggesting further research is needed for undernourished and well-nourished children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Microbiology
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Synbiotics, combining probiotics and prebiotics, offer gastrointestinal benefits.
- Failure to thrive (FTT) in children is a concern requiring effective interventions.
- Understanding synbiotics' impact on pediatric growth is crucial for nutritional management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of synbiotic supplementation on growth parameters in children with mild to moderate FTT.
- To assess changes in weight, height, and Body Mass Index (BMI) following synbiotic intervention.
- To monitor associated factors like infections, gastrointestinal issues, and appetite.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted.
- 80 children aged 2-5 years with mild to moderate FTT received either synbiotics (10^9 CFU) or placebo daily for 30 days.
- Weight, height, BMI, infection episodes, GI problems, hospital admissions, and appetite were systematically recorded.
Main Results:
- The synbiotic group showed a significantly greater increase in mean weight (600±37 g/month) compared to the placebo group (74±32 g/month; P=0.000).
- BMI changes were significantly higher in the synbiotic group (0.44 kg/m^2) versus the placebo group (0.07 kg/m^2; P=0.045).
- No significant difference in height increment was observed between the synbiotic (0.41 cm) and placebo (0.37 cm) groups (P=0.761).
Conclusions:
- Thirty days of synbiotic supplementation can significantly enhance weight gain and BMI in Iranian children experiencing mild to moderate FTT.
- Synbiotics did not demonstrate a significant impact on height increase in this study population.
- Further research is recommended to explore the effects of synbiotics on growth parameters in both undernourished and well-nourished children.
Abstract:
Synbiotic (probiotic bacteria and prebiotic) has beneficial effects on the gastrointestinal tract. This study was designed to investigate the effect of synbiotic supplementation on the growth of mild to moderate failure to thrive (FTT) children. A randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted involving 80 children aged 2-5 years with mild to moderate FTT, who were assigned at random to receive synbiotic supplementation (109 colony-forming units) or placebo for 30 days. The weights, height, and BMI were recorded in a structured diary, and the questionnaires were completed to monitor the numbers of infection episodes, gastrointestinal problems, admission to hospital, and appetite improvement during the study. Sixty-nine children completed the study. There were no differences in the demographic characteristic between the two groups. The mean weight was similar at baseline. After 30 days of intervention, the mean weight of the participants in the synbiotic group increased significantly than those in the placebo group (600 ± 37 vs. 74 ± 32 g/month P 0.000). BMI changes in synbiotic and placebo group were 0.44 and 0.07 kg/m2, and that the differences among the two groups were significant.(P 0.045) Furthermore, the height increment in synbiotic and placebo group was 0.41 and 0.37 cm respectively with no significant difference (P 0.761). Administration of 30-day synbiotic supplementation may significantly improve weight and BMI in Iranian children with mild to moderate FTT, but there is no effect on the height in this study. Further studies should be designed to found out the effect of synbiotic on growth parameters in undernourished and well-nourished children.
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