Intervention in Children With Malnutrition

Mexican children face both forms of malnutrition: under- and overnutrition. Malnutrition is common among children living in rural areas and indigenous populations, where children suffer from food insecurity and cannot access quality nutrition with adequate micronutrients levels. Studies with vulnerable population groups, such as children, in Mexico have shown that micronutrient deficiencies of vitamins A, E, D, C, and minerals like iron, zinc, calcium, and selenium exist. Micronutrient deficiencies can affect physiology functions, growth of children, cognitive function, and impair metabolic processes at biochemical and cellular level. Furthermore, the early exposure of children to malnutrition, in conjunction with the existence of genetic susceptibility, may predispose children to develop metabolic abnormalities like metabolic syndrome (MetS). Thus, increasing the risk of children developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in adulthood.

The investigators decided to implement an intervention study in rural communities in the state of Yucatan because this region presents a higher proportion of Maya population than other states of Mexico, but also Yucatan has the highest prevalence of both obesity and undernutrition in children in the country. Previous studies from the investigators group in a Maya child population revealed a frequency of 50% MetS, 34.9% Insulin Resistance (IR), in addition to deficiencies of essential micronutrients. Despite the fact micronutrients are essential for adequate functioning of metabolic processes, few studies in Mexico propose an intervention with enriched food with multiple nutrients such as micronutrients and omega-3 fatty acids. Also, there is little evidence from micronutrient intervention studies in schoolchildren with malnutrition in Mexico, as a strategy to impact on nutritional status and preventive metabolic conditions. For instance, a study by García-López S et al in Mexican schoolchildren with overweight and MetS showed a decrease in lipid and glycemic profiles when supplemented with omega 3-fatty acids for 1 month. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of 4-week intervention with enriched cookies containing a micronutrient formula designed specifically to target the nutritional deficiencies identified in the children. The investigators assessed anthropometric, clinical, biochemical, and cognitive parameters; diet and molecular parameters were assessed only at pre-intervention.

• Study location: This study was conducted in three elementary schools of Maya rural communities of Yucatan. The communities are Xocén, Tahmek, and San José Oriente.
• Study design: This study was a paired clinical trial. Participants were their own control for the enriched food intervention.
• Sample size: The investigators used an equation for finite population. The sample size was estimated to have 80% of statistical power and 95% of a confidence level. A 15% was considered for calculations for dropout during the intervention. Based on the prevalence of malnutrition in Mexico and one community (Xocén), the total number of participants was 106.
• Sampling procedure: The investigators considered the inclusion and exclusion criterions. Participants were assigned with the convenience sampling technique.
• Intervention: The intervention consisted of a either a handmade oatmeal cookie or industrialized cookies both enriched with a formula FV-UNAM. The handmade oatmeal cookies enriched with the supplement formula were administered to schoolchildren from Xocén. The industrialized cookies, called Globitos, were donated by DONDÉ cookie factory company, and were supplemented with the same formula as the oatmeal cookies. The enriched Globitos were distributed to the schoolchildren from Tahmek and San José Oriente. The FV formula for children was designed by the Facultad de Química-UNAM. The FV formula is in powder form that contains vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids, which are nutrients that have been observed to be deficient in the studied schoolchildren populations. The formulation was within the requirements of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for the Mexican population, according to their age, from the Official Mexican Standard (NOM)-051-SCFI/SSA1-2010.
• Measurements: A nutritional-clinical face-to-face interview was performed with parents or tutors and children. When necessary, assistance from a local translator was used. Nutritional data was collected before pre-intervention. Anthropometric, clinical, biochemical, and cognitive parameters were collected pre- and post-intervention; diet and molecular parameters were assessed only at pre-intervention.

• Anthropometric parameters were measured according to the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK). Parameters included were: body weight (SECA 869), height (SECA 217); wrist, arm, and waist circumference (LUFKIN); tricipital skinfold (LANGE); wrist, humerus, and femur diameters (VITRUVIAN). Then, the BMI-for-age and height-for-age indicators were estimated and were translated to z-score according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification for growth standards. Bone's diameters were translated to z-score and tricipital skinfold to percentile.
• Body composition (body fat and fat-free-mass) was determined by bioimpedance analysis (TANITA BC-1500).
• Blood pressure was taken twice with a rest period of 10 minutes. The investigators used the average of the two measurements and converted the value to percentile.
• Biochemical parameters were collected of peripheral blood samples (8ml) after 12 hours of fasting in the presence of parents or tutors. The 4ml was used for complete blood count and blood chemistry determinations, and also the molecular parameters. The rest of the sample (4ml) will be used for the determination of micronutrients in serum (vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin D). Blood samples were centrifuged 15 minutes after sample collection and separated into aliquots. Aliquots were kept under optimal conditions (2-8◦C) until processing. All biochemical parameters were determined by the central laboratory of Hospital Juárez de México according to the specific instructions of the manufacturers of the commercial kits. The micronutrients will be quantified by high-efficiency liquid chromatography (HPLC).
• Cognitive test was assessed using a Draw-A-Person Intellectual Ability Test for Children, Adolescents and Adults (DAP:IQ), which allows an estimation of intellectual ability. The cognitive test was analyzed by two evaluators.
• Dietary intake was assessed using a standard 24-hour diet recall questionnaire at pre-intervention. This assessment consists of face-to-face interviews with parents or tutors, and children. The investigators used household measurements to estimate portion sizes of consumed foods and beverages. Dietary intake data was analyzed by a dietary analysis program (Nutrimind software). This software uses the Mexican Equivalent Food System and U.S. Department of agriculture (USDA) Food database.
• Frequency of food intake was estimated using the standard Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (SFFQ), which was specific for the school age Mexican population. This assessment was a face-to-face interview with children in presence with the teacher. The SFFQ was analyzed using a valid method of Ramírez-Silva I et al., 2016.
• Molecular parameters included genotypification of genetic polymorphisms that are associated with metabolic alteration in Mexican adults and Mexico´s indigenous communities. First, the DNA genomic extraction from whole blood was performed using Miller technique. Polymorphisms of genes ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) binding cassette subfamily A member 1 (ABCA1), Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARG), Glucokinase regulator (GCKR), Cycline-dependent kinase inhibitor-2A/B (CDKN2A/2B), Fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO), and Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4A) were genotyped using TaqMan® probes in Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) (QS5 from Applied Biosystem). The Hardy-Weinberg (H-W) equilibrium was verified. The allelic frequencies were obtained and were compared to 1000 Genomes Project reported frequencies.
• Adverse effects of the enriched cookies. Any adverse effects were assessed during a weekly visit. The information was obtained by teachers, parents or tutors.
• Ethics approval. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Hospital Juárez de México (HJM2315/14-C).
• Data Analysis. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Program for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 20. Descriptive data was shown with tables pre- and post-intervention. Categorical variables were used as percentages. Continuous variables were tested for normality and were presented as mean and standard deviation. To determine significance of observed differences between pre- and post-intervention measurements the investigators used paired t-Student (parametric variables) and Wilcoxon (non-parametric) tests. An ANCOVA was performed to identify correlations between nutritional status and parameters, and was adjusted by age, gender, and BMI-z-score as fixed variables. Logistic regression was used to determine the effects of polymorphism under the risk of metabolic abnormality. A 95% confidence level was used, and a P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Inclusion criteria

• Children with Maya ethnicity confirmed by having parents and grandparents belonging to the same community, and three generations living in the community.
• Children enrolled in 3th and 4th year of elementary school from the same educational center, volunteers, who have the informed consent signed by their parents or tutors, and the assent letter signed by children.
• Aged between 8 to 10 years.
• Both genders.

Exclusion criteria

• Any child who does not want to participate in the study.
• Children whose parents or tutors do not agree to sign the informed consent.
• Children who do not sign the assent letter.
• Age less than 8 years and older than 11 years.
• Children using antihypertensive, hypoglycemic or lipid-lowering medications, as well as those that have a history of a condition affected by glucose metabolism, insulin or that alter body composition (cancer, chronic infections, food allergy).
• Under treatment of intake of supplements with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants (<2 months).
• Children with alcoholism or smoking.