Augustin Bere

Nutrition rehabilitation of undernourished children utilizing Spiruline and Misola

BackgroundMalnutrition constitutes a public health problem throughout the world and particularly in developing countries.AimsThe objective of the study is to assess the impact of an elementary integrator composed of Spiruline (Spirulina platensis) and Misola (millet, soja, peanut) produced at the Centre Medical St Camille (CMSC) of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on the nutritional status of undernourished children.Materials and methods550 undernourished children of less than 5 years old were enrolled in this study, 455 showed severe marasma, 57 marasma of medium severity and 38 kwashiorkor plus marasma. We divided the children randomly into four groups: 170 were given Misola (731 ± 7 kcal/day), 170 were given Spiruline plus traditional meals (748 ± 6 kcal/day), 170 were given Spiruline plus Misola (767 ± 5 kcal/day). Forty children received only traditional meals (722 ± 8 kcal/day) and functioned as the control group. The duration of this study was eight weeks.Results and DiscussionAnthropometrics and haematological parameters allowed us to appreciate both the nutritional and biological evolution of these children. The rehabilitation with Spiruline plus Misola (this association gave an energy intake of 767 ± 5 kcal/day with a protein assumption of 33.3 ± 1.2 g a day), both greater than Misola or Spiruline alone, seems to correct weight loss more quickly.ConclusionOur results indicate that Misola, Spiruline plus traditional meals or Spiruline plus Misola are all a good food supplement for undernourished children, but the rehabilitation by Spiruline plus Misola seems synergically favour the nutrition rehabilitation better than the simple addition of protein and energy intake.

Nutrition Rehabilitation of HIV-Infected and HIV-Negative Undernourished Children Utilizing Spirulina

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of an alimentary integrator composed of spirulina (Spirulina platensis; SP), produced at the Centre Médical St Camille of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on the nutritional status of undernourished HIV-infected and HIV-negative children. We compared two groups of children: 84 were HIV-infected and 86 were HIV-negative. The duration of the study was 8 weeks. Anthropometric and haematological parameters allowed us to appreciate both the nutritional and biological effect of SP supplement to traditional meals. Rehabilitation with SP shows on average a weight gain of 15 and 25 g/day in HIV-infected and HIV-negative children, respectively. The level of anaemia decreased during the study in all children, but recuperation was less efficient among HIV-infected children. In fact 81.8% of HIV-negative undernourished children recuperated as opposed to 63.6% of HIV-infected children (Z: 1.70 (95% CI –0.366, –0.002, p = 0.088)). Our results confirm that SP is a good food supplement for undernourished children. In particular, rehabilitation with SP also seems to correct anaemia and weight loss in HIV-infected children, and even more quickly in HIV-negative undernourished children.

Acknowledgement to the 2005 Reviewers

Micksche M., Vienna, Austria Miller T.L., New York, USA Pallauf J., Giessen, Germany Palou A., Palma de Mallorca, Spain Pedersen J., Oslo, Norway Petersson Grawe K., Uppsala, Sweden Prentice A., London, UK Rieder A., Vienna, Austria Roche H.M., Dublin, Ireland Rodriguez-Amaya D.B., Campinos, Brasil Roky R., Casablanca, Morocco Rust P., Vienna, Austria Schweigert F.J., Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Germany Seidell J.C., Bilthoven, The Netherlands Shirwaikar A., Manipal, India Simopoulos A.P., Washington, USA Svensson J., Göteborg, Sweden Kajantie E., Helsinki, Finland Thorpe S.R., Columbo, USA Trautwein E.A., Vlaardingen, The Netherlands Trichopoulos D., Boston, USA Uauy R., Santiago, Chile Vajreswari A., India von Ruecker A., Bonn, Germany von Schacky C., Munich, Germany Walczyk T., Rüschlikon, Switzerland Walter D., Bergholz-Rehbrücke, Germany Yamamoto H., Kawasaki, Japan Zentek J., Vienna, Austria Zingg J.M., Bern, Switzerland Zunft H.-J., Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Germany Zwiauer K.F., St. Pölten, Austria Adam O., Munich, Germany Agustoni C., Milano, Italy Araya M., Santiago, Chile Arruda S.F., Asa Norte, Brasil Arthington J.D., Ona, USA Azevedo R.B., Brasil Biesalski K.H., Stuttgart, Germany Bode Ch., Stuttgart, Germany Boeing H., Bergholz-Rehbrücke, Germany Branca F., Copenhagen, Denmark Branger B., France Christophe A.B., Ghent, Belgium Dagnelie P.C., Maastricht, The Netherlands Decsi T., Pécs, Hungary DeRose D.J., USA Dixon J.B., Melbourne, Australia Dobos D., Essen, Germany Eder K., Halle, Germany Fournier P.A., Australia Garcia Monzon C., Madrid, Spain Haas K., Vienna, Austria Huyghebaert A., Ghent, Belgium Isnardy B., Vienna, Austria Kohlenberg-Müller K., Fulda, Germany Koletzko B., Munich, Germany Krejs G., Graz, Austria Ladeji O., Jos, Nigeria Laplace J.P., Paris, France Linseisen J., Heidelberg, Germany Ludvik B., Vienna, Austria Łukaszewicz M., Wrocław, Poland Marktl W., Vienna, Austria Martinez A., Pamplona, Spain