Influence of amaranth consumption on the anthropometric and hematological profile of school-age children with low height for age
Keywords:
Anthropometric parameters, amaranth, undernutrition, amaranth protein, low height.Abstract
Malnutrition, especially in school-age children, is still a public health problem in Mexico. Particularly, in the state of San Luis Potosi, chronic undernutrition is given with higher prevalence in rural areas of the Huasteca Potosina. The supplementation of the children´s diets with nutritious and nutraceutical foods, such as amaranth, have been proposed as an alternative to improve the children´s health. Amaranth seed contains high quality proteins due to their good balance of essential amino acids, fulfilling the requirements for proper development of both children and adults. The objective of this work was to identify the rural area with the highest prevalence of chronic child undernutrition and to determine the effect of amaranth consumption on the anthropometric and hematological profile of school-age children with low height-for age. The selection of children was based on the reference growth standards for children defined by the World Health Organization. The participating children live in adobe houses with palm roofs, unpaved streets, basic services of electricity and drinking water, walk long distances to attend school and only the support of a basic food basket to eat. All participating children took an oral antiparasitic medication at the beginning of the study, and the diet was supplemented with flour and popped amaranth grain for a period of 90 days. At the beginning and end of the study, anthropometric parameters were measured and blood and stool samples were taken. At the end of the study, no significant increase in the children´s height was observed; however, an increased hemoglobin levels in the blood was noted. The presence of parasites in the stool, especially Blastocytis spp., which is related to intestinal inflammation and diarrheal episodes, was observed at the end of the study. Improvements in the environmental conditions of the children´s habitat should be considered in order to improve intestinal health and therefore the overall health of the children.
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