Providing lipid-based nutrient supplements does not affect developmental milestones among Malawian children

• Published in: Acta Paediatrica Vol. 103; no. 1; pp. e17 - e26
• Main Authors: Mangani, Charles, Cheung, Yin Bun, Maleta, Kenneth, Phuka, John, Thakwalakwa, Chrissie, Dewey, Kathryn, Manary, Mark, Puumalainen, Taneli, Ashorn, Per
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Norway Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.01.2014; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Child Development; Complementary feeding; Developmental milestones; Dietary Supplements; Female; Humans; Infant; Infants and young children; Lipid-based nutrient supplements; Lipids - administration & dosage; Malawi; Male; Motor Skills; Malawi; Infants and young children; Developmental milestones; Complementary feeding; Child development; Lipid-based nutrient supplements
• ISSN: 0803-5253; 1651-2227; 1651-2227
• DOI: 10.1111/apa.12443

Aim To assess whether using lipid‐based nutrient supplements (LNS) to complement the diets of infants and young children affected when they achieved selected developmental milestones. Methods In rural Malawi, 840 6‐month‐old healthy infants were enrolled to a randomised trial. Control participants received no supplements, others were provided with milk‐containing LNS, soy‐containing LNS or corn–soy blend (CSB) for 12 months. Outcomes were the age at which they achieved key milestone: motor (walking with assistance, standing and walking alone, running), social (drinking from a cup and eating by themself) and language (saying single comprehensible words and waving goodbye). Results The mean age at which the subjects walked with assistance was 42.5, 42.3, 42.7 and 43.2 weeks in the control, milk‐LNS, soy‐LNS and CSB groups, respectively (p = 0.748). There were also no significant differences in the mean age at standing alone (45.0, 44.9, 45.1 and 46.3 weeks), walking alone (54.6, 55.1, 55.3, 56.5 weeks), running (64.6, 63.7, 64.8, 65.9 weeks) or any other social or language milestones (each p > 0.10). Conclusion The findings do not support a hypothesis that providing tested formulations and doses of micronutrient‐fortified LNS or CSB would have an impact on when young children in rural Malawi achieved selected developmental milestones.