New Study: Nutrition Supplement Helps Undernourished and At-Risk Children Grow Taller, Build Stronger Bones and More Muscle, and Have Fewer Sick Days

A new study from global healthcare leader Abbott  shows that when PediaSure® Plus, along with dietary counseling, is given to undernourished children they had two times height improvement and approximately 50% greater gain in lean mass compared to those who only received dietary counseling over an eight month period.  Lean mass includes muscle, bones, organs and everything in the body except body fat. The children also had other health benefits like fewer sick days, higher energy levels and better nutritional intake.

Dr. Jose Dimaano Jr.,  Medical Director for Abbott’s Nutrition Business in Asia Pacific; Dr. Mandy Ow, Senior Clinical Scientist at Abbott Nutrition R&D in Singapore; and Jennifer Olay, Pediatric Gastroenterologist, joined PediaSure Plus ambassadors Chesca Kramer and Dimples Romana in a panel discussion on early childhood nutrition. They discussed nutritional gaps, the importance of quality growth, and key findings from Abbott’s SPROUT study during the launch of PediaSure Plus with PeptiGro System.

The first-of-its-kind study included 330 children aged 2 to 5 years old who are undernourished or at-risk of being undernourished, all of whom were below a healthy height for age—or at least mildly stunted. For eight months, the families and children in the study received dietary counseling, and the children either drank two servings of  PediaSure® Plus a day or continued their habitual milk intake. Growth and other health assessments were taken throughout the study.

The children who drank  PediaSure® Plus two times a day improved their growth and demonstrated other significant health benefits after eight months, including:

● Quality growth: In addition to height and lean mass improvements, the children developed longer and stronger bones. They had longer leg length and 40% more gain in bone density, with no extra fat gain.

● Enhanced immunity: 37% fewer sick days and 37% fewer missed school days.

● Better appetite and improved nutritional status: Higher parent-reported appetite as well as better vitamin D and K status, which are critical for bone development, and calcium absorption and utilization.

● Higher energy levels: More energetic, as reported by parents.

'This study emphasizes the profound impact of nutrition on growth, development and overall health,'' Dr. Mandy Ow, senior clinical scientist at Abbott’s nutrition research & development center in Singapore. ''Our research demonstrates that addressing undernutrition with nutrition supplements can support a child's development beyond just visible height by promoting overall quality growth.''

Decades of research have demonstrated that nutrition supplements that provide a complete blend of macronutrients and micronutrients are effective in promoting growth in children with undernutrition. 

''Proper nutrition is the foundation for growth and health, and can support children through critical growth periods, said Dr. Jennifer Olay, a pediatric gastroenterologist and nutrition expert. ''Nutrition during early childhood, especially in the first five years, supports physical growth, and builds strength, resilience and immunity.'' 

Supporting Growth with Science-Based Nutrition 

To help address growth in undernourished children in the Philippines, Abbott introduced its new PediaSure Plus with PeptiGro System – the formulation used in the study. The PeptiGro System is a unique combination of important nutrients, including natural vitamin K2, arginine, and casein phosphopeptides (CPPs), which helps support optimal growth among children.