Acceptability of a 21 micronutrient-fortified atole and its impact on health and nutrition in children under 6 years of age from Guatemala City.

With the aim to reduce chronic undernutrition in children that attended 6 Guatemala City daycare centers a corn and soy-based beverage was used as a vehicle to provide 21 micronutrients and high concentrations of iron (12mg) and zinc (9 mg) and was provided to747 children aged 6 to 72 months. Children were followed for anthropometry every 3m hemoglobin every 6m and episodes of acute diarrhea and respiratory tract infections were registered throughout the intervention. A longitudinal Repeated Measures ANOVA demonstrated that mean hemoglobin significantly improved at 6 and 12m of receiving the beverage (11.26 11.64 and 11.89g/dL respectively) p<0.01; the prevalence of anemia decreased by 44.2% after 12m p<0.01; mean height-for-age z score improved from -1.25 (0m) to -1.07 (12m) p<0.01; the prevalence of stunting decreased by 25% after 12m. A significant decrease in the prevalence of acute respiratory infection was observed. No changes were observed in the prevalence of diarrhea. Moreover an acceptability study showed that children consumed more than 98% of the atole. These results suggest that this nutrition intervention with the fortified atole improves the health and nutritional status of children. The product is widely accepted by the children and staff at the nurseries.