Effects of multiple herb formula SEC-22 supplementation on dietary intake, picky eating behaviors, and growth indices in thin preschool children.
- Author:
Kijoon KIM
1
;
Joonsuk LEE
;
Hee Young PAIK
;
Jihyun YOON
;
Bongha RYU
;
Jae Eun SHIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Clinical Trial ; Randomized Controlled Trial ; Original Article
- Keywords: Underweight; picky eating; thin children; feeding difficulty; herb extracts
- MeSH: Appetite; Ascorbic Acid; Child; Child, Preschool*; Diet Records; Eating; Feeding Behavior*; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Parents; Potassium; Thiamine; Thinness
- From:Nutrition Research and Practice 2015;9(4):393-399
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Thin children may have insufficient intake of energy and nutrients, resulting in reduced immune function and growth. This study aimed to identify the effects of multiple herb formula SEC-22 supplementation on growth, dietary changes, and picky eating behaviors in thin children. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted on 79 children aged 2-5 years with poor appetites, BMI percentile < 25, and without any illness. Subjects were given either SEC-22 (n = 35) or placebo (n = 44) for 2 months and followed for an additional 2 months. Three-day dietary records, questionnaires on picky eating behaviors, and anthropometric measures were collected. RESULTS: Energy, carbohydrate intake, and feeding difficulty improved in both groups during the intervention period. However, changes were maintained only in the SEC-22 group after 2 months of follow-up post-supplementation. 'Frequency of trying to feed' was improved in the SEC-22 group compared to the placebo group after the first month of follow-up (P < 0.05). Intakes of potassium and thiamine were improved in the SEC-22 group compared to the placebo group after the first month of intervention (P < 0.05). 'Frequency of food reward', eating amount, and intakes of carbohydrate, potassium, and vitamin C showed significant improvement compared to the placebo group after the second month of follow-up (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that SEC-22 supplementation can improve parental feeding difficulty resulting from insufficient eating amount or picky eating as well as increase nutrient intake in thin children. Although these improvements were observable at least 2 months after supplementation, effects beyond this time frame need to be confirmed.
