Abstract

Background: The nutritional status and diet quality of pre-school to school age children were assessed using standard dietary assessment techniques.
Design of the randomized controlled trial (RCT): The children were divided into 4 arms whereby each group consisted of 6 children. Group (1) served as control; group (2) consumed rice milk porridge and served as placebo; group (3) consumed commercial Bifido probiotic yoghurt (PY) and group (4) consumed commercial fermented sour sobya (SS) providing diverse Lactobacilli and yeasts. Stool and urine samples were collected before and after 3 week of dietary intervention.
Results: The overall weight for age Z-score (WAZ), height for age Z-score (HAZ) and weight for height Z-score (WHZ) were within the norms (above - 0.2). However, 15.4% of the boys were wasted (WHZ < -.2); and 54.4% of the girls were stunted (HAZ < -0.2). The mean ratio of the estimated energy intake (EI) to basal metabolic rate (BMR) was unity (1:1). The dietary fat, total and animal proteins were well balanced and made up overall averages of 32.4, 16.7 and 11.17% of the total energy intake (EI), respectively and the healthy eating index (HEI) average 60.7 ± 1.39%. The 3 week dietary intervention with PY or SS improved the balance of gut resident microbiota as evidenced by significant increases in the mean counts of beneficial gut bacteria and significant reduction in the pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae. The mean concentration of secretory immunoglobulin A increased significantly in the stool of the children following 3 week consumption of the PY or SS compared with the respective pre-feeding levels. The urinary hydroxyproline index (HPRO-I), a biomarker of linear growth increased significantly among all the children consuming the PY or SS compared to the respective baseline levels. The mean levels of urinary thiobarbituric acid (TBA), a biomarker of oxidative stress were reduced significantly among the two groups consuming the fermented PY or SS.
Conclusion: PY or SS supplements are comparable in their bioefficiency as non-pharmacological biotherapeutics for a healthy gut. The 3 week daily intake of PY or SS stimulated the immune system and accelerated growth.