[Nutritional impact of supplemented food in relation to the duration and severity of infectious episodes]

The nutritional impact of three different programs of supplementary feeding implemented with children aged 6-24 months, was examined in relation to the duration and the severity of infectious diseases. After a 2-month intervention, statistically significant changes in weight for length were found in two of the groups (those supplemented with rice and beans, and those supplemented with rice cereal enriched with oil). No significant changes in weight for length were found in the other groups (those supplemented with banana cereal and the control group), nor were statistically significant changes found in any of the four groups in relation to weight for age, nor length for age. No statistically significant changes were found on the incidence, duration, and severity of infectious diseases. As a result of these findings it can be postulated that despite a high frequency of infectious episodes, often severe and of long duration, supplementary feeding on the early part of life can be effective when there is a high risk of malnutrition.