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Multiple micronutrient supplementation using spirulina platensis and infant growth, morbidity and motor development: Evidence from a randomized trial in Zambia

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  • Masuda, Kazuya
  • Chitundu, Maureen

Abstract

Background: In developing countries, micronutrient deficiency in infants is associated with growth faltering, morbidity, and delayed motor development. One of the potentially low-cost and sustainable solutions is to use locally producible food for the home fortification of complementary foods. Objective: The objectives were to test the hypothesis that locally producible spirulina platensis supplementation would achieve the following: 1) increase infant physical growth; 2) reduce morbidity; and 3) improve motor development. Design: We randomly assigned 501 Zambian infants into a control (CON) group or a spirulina (SP) group. Children in the CON group (n=250) received a soya-maize-based porridge for 12 months, whereas those in the SP group (n=251) received the same food but with the addition of spirulina. We assessed the change in infants’ anthropometric status, morbidity, and motor development over 12 months. Results: The baseline characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups. The attrition rate (47/501) was low. The physical growth of infants in the two groups was similar at 12 months of intervention, as measured by height-for-age z-scores (HAZ), and weight-for-age z-scores (WAZ). SP infants were less likely to suffer from cough by 11 percentage point (CI: -0.23, -0.00; P

Suggested Citation

  • Masuda, Kazuya & Chitundu, Maureen, 2018. "Multiple micronutrient supplementation using spirulina platensis and infant growth, morbidity and motor development: Evidence from a randomized trial in Zambia," CEI Working Paper Series 2018-2, Center for Economic Institutions, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
  • Handle: RePEc:hit:hitcei:2018-2
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    File URL: https://hermes-ir.lib.hit-u.ac.jp/hermes/ir/re/29205/wp2018-2.pdf
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    1. Masuda, Kazuya & Chitundu, Maureen, 2019. "Post-intervention morbidity and growth among Zambian children who received multiple micronutrient supplementation using spirulina platensis: evidence from a randomized trial in Zambia," CEI Working Paper Series 2018-21, Center for Economic Institutions, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    chronic malnutrition; home-fortification; spirulina; infant growth; motor development; morbidity; Zambia;
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