Exposure to a slightly sweet lipid-based nutrient supplement during early life does not increase the preference for or consumption of sweet foods and beverages by 4-6-y-old Ghanaian preschool children: Follow-up of a randomized controlled trial

Harriet Okronipa, Mary Arimond, Rebecca R. Young, Charles D. Arnold, Seth Adu-Afarwuah, Solace M. Tamakloe, Helena J. Bentil, Maku E. Ocansey, Sika M. Kumordzie, Brietta M. Oaks, Kathryn G. Dewey

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8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Whether consuming sweet foods early in life affects sweet food preferences and consumption later in childhood is unknown. Objective: We tested the hypothesis that exposure to a slightly sweet lipid-based nutrient supplement (LNS) early in life would not increase preference for or consumption of sweet items at preschool age. Methods: We followed up children who had participated in a randomized trial in Ghana in which LNS was provided to 1 group of women during pregnancy and 6 mo postpartum and to their infants from ages 6-18 mo (LNS group). The control group (non-LNS group) received iron and folic acid during pregnancy or multiple micronutrients during pregnancy and 6 mo postpartum, with no infant supplementation. At 4-6 y, we obtained data from caregivers on children's food and beverage preferences and consumption (n = 985). For a randomly selected subsample (n = 624), we assessed preference for sweet items using a photo game (range in potential scores, 0-15). For the photo game and reported consumption of sweet items, we examined group differences using predetermined noninferiority margins equivalent to an effect size of 0.2. Results: Median (quartile 1, quartile 3) reported consumption of sweet items (times in previous week) was 14 (8, 23) in the LNS group and 16 (9, 22) in the non-LNS group; in the photo game, the number of sweet items selected was 15 (11, 15) and 15 (11, 15), respectively. The upper level of the 95% CI of the mean difference between LNS and non-LNS groups did not exceed the noninferiority margins for these outcomes. Caregiver-reported preferences for sweet items also did not differ between groups (P = 0.9). Conclusion: In this setting, where child consumption of sweet foods was common, exposure to a slightly sweet LNS early in life did not increase preference for or consumption of sweet foods and beverages at preschool age.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)532-541
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Nutrition
Volume149
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2019

Keywords

  • Children
  • Consumption
  • Ghana
  • Lipid-based nutrient supplements
  • Preference
  • Sugar-sweetened beverage
  • Sweet food

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