Nutrition for all: Exploratory studio with Nutricarob protein food and its effect on underweight children.

In Venezuela, the dire lack of medical access is evident through prolonged hospital wait times, scarcity of crucial medicines, and a deteriorating health infrastructure, disproportionately affecting the impoverished population. Their struggle to obtain basic treatments and necessary medications compounds the challenges faced by Venezuelans.

Responding to this urgent situation, the Maranatha Church in Falcón State, Venezuela initiated a nutritional study targeting mothers with children aged 0 to 18. The study, conducted from June to December 2022, aimed to combat malnutrition by providing the dietary supplement Nutricarob.

A total of 130 children participated, with 30 categorized as normal weight and 100 as underweight. Criteria like body mass index, physical development, hematology, medical conditions, and a questionnaire-guided selection. Fifty underweight children were randomly chosen with parental consent.

The study’s objective was to evaluate the outcomes of the supplement over three months, using 30 normal-weight children as a reference group. Notably, 48 children completed the study; two dropped out due to parental refusal and parental death from HIV.

Using a mixed methodology, the study blended quantitative analysis from physical examinations with qualitative insights from mothers’ interviews. The supplement yielded positive results, with 96% of children experiencing weight gain of 1 to 10 kilograms and 50% showing significant height and hematologic changes.

Beyond physical improvements, mothers reported enhanced cognitive functions – attention, concentration, memory, retention, and logical reasoning along with improved socialization and communication skills. Physically, there was better skin, a higher body mass index, and healthier hair and nails compared to the control group.

These promising findings offer hope for future projects targeting child malnutrition across various age groups, aiming to alleviate the widespread impact of the crisis in Venezuela. The study highlights the potential of interventions to mitigate the adverse effects of malnutrition on children’s health and well-being.