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The Effect of Synbiotic Supplementation on Growth Parameters in Mild to Moderate FTT Children Aged 2–5 Years

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Abstract

Synbiotic (probiotic bacteria and prebiotic) has beneficial effects on the gastrointestinal tract. This study was designed to investigate the effect of synbiotic supplementation on the growth of mild to moderate failure to thrive (FTT) children. A randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted involving 80 children aged 2–5 years with mild to moderate FTT, who were assigned at random to receive synbiotic supplementation (109 colony-forming units) or placebo for 30 days. The weights, height, and BMI were recorded in a structured diary, and the questionnaires were completed to monitor the numbers of infection episodes, gastrointestinal problems, admission to hospital, and appetite improvement during the study. Sixty-nine children completed the study. There were no differences in the demographic characteristic between the two groups. The mean weight was similar at baseline. After 30 days of intervention, the mean weight of the participants in the synbiotic group increased significantly than those in the placebo group (600 ± 37 vs. 74 ± 32 g/month P 0.000). BMI changes in synbiotic and placebo group were 0.44 and 0.07 kg/m2, and that the differences among the two groups were significant.(P 0.045) Furthermore, the height increment in synbiotic and placebo group was 0.41 and 0.37 cm respectively with no significant difference (P 0.761). Administration of 30-day synbiotic supplementation may significantly improve weight and BMI in Iranian children with mild to moderate FTT, but there is no effect on the height in this study. Further studies should be designed to found out the effect of synbiotic on growth parameters in undernourished and well-nourished children.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Growth Disorders of Children Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

    Majid Aflatoonian, Seyedeh Zalfa Modarresi, Mehran Karimi & Mahtab Ordooei

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran

    Abbas Taghavi Ardakani

  3. Department of Pediatric, Yazd branch, Islamic Azad University, Yazd, Iran

    Vajiheh Modaresi

  4. Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

    Mahmood Vakili

  5. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Bahar Pakseresht

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  1. Majid Aflatoonian
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  2. Abbas Taghavi Ardakani
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Correspondence to Seyedeh Zalfa Modarresi.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments. The study protocol was approved by the Research Ethical Committee of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences. Written informed consent was obtained from the patients’ parents or guardians.

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Aflatoonian, M., Taghavi Ardakani, A., Modarresi, S.Z. et al. The Effect of Synbiotic Supplementation on Growth Parameters in Mild to Moderate FTT Children Aged 2–5 Years. Probiotics & Antimicro. Prot. 12, 119–124 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-018-9508-6

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