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Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes
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Small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements for children age 6-24 months: a systematic review and individual

Elizabeth L Prado1, Charles D Arnold1, K Ryan Wessells1

  • 1Institute for Global Nutrition & Department of Nutrition, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|September 30, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Small-quantity (SQ) lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNSs) modestly improved child development, particularly in populations with high stunting. Benefits were greatest for children in higher-risk environments, showing potential for targeted nutritional interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Nutrition Science
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Small-quantity (SQ) lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNSs) are designed to deliver essential nutrients crucial for early childhood brain development.
  • Understanding the impact of SQ-LNSs on developmental trajectories is vital for optimizing child health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the pooled effects of SQ-LNSs on various developmental outcomes in young children.
  • To identify factors at both study and individual levels that may modify the effectiveness of SQ-LNSs.

Main Methods:

  • A two-stage meta-analysis of individual participant data was conducted.
  • Included data from 13 randomized controlled trials involving 30,024 children aged 6-24 months receiving SQ-LNSs.

Main Results:

  • SQ-LNSs significantly improved mean language, social-emotional, and motor scores, and reduced the prevalence of children in the lowest score deciles.
  • A notable increase in children walking without support by 12 months was observed.
  • Enhanced effects were seen in populations with high stunting burdens and for specific subgroups, including malnourished children and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

Conclusions:

  • Child SQ-LNSs offer modest but significant developmental benefits, comparable to 1-1.5 IQ points, especially in high-stunting areas.
  • Children facing higher-risk environmental factors demonstrate a greater potential to benefit from SQ-LNSs for developmental improvements.
Abstract

Keywords:
child undernutritioncomplementary feedingexecutive functionlanguage developmentmotor developmentnutrient supplementssocial-emotional development

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