Acceptability of Lipid-based Nutrient Supplements (LNS) for Women and Infants

This study is a taste test to confirm the acceptability of lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS), which are semi-solid pastes comprising groundnut paste, milk, sugar, vegetable oil and micronutrients, for home fortification of foods consumed by infants and by pregnant and lactating women. Two types of supplements will be evaluated, one for infants (LNS20gM) and one for pregnant and lactating women (LNS P&L). The LNS-20gM is similar to the Nutributter we used previously in Ghana and provides generally the Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNI) for 18 vitamins and minerals for infants from 6 to 18 mo of age. The LNS-P&L is modeled on the UNICEF/WHO/UNU international multiple micronutrient preparation (UNIMMAP) for pregnant and lactating women and similar products used in Guinea Bissau. Each supplement (20 g/day) will provide 118 kcal/day.

Procedures:The study will be carried out in two phases. The first test trial will be conducted within the premises of the Maternal and Child Health Clinics, where study participants will be recruited.

Potential study participants or their mothers (in the case of infants) will be asked verbally using a screening questionnaire at the time of recruitment if they are known to be intolerant to peanut or milk products, in which case they will be excluded. Because infants must have been receiving complementary foods at least 30 days prior to taking part in the study, this will not be too difficult to find out. For subjects unaware of whether they are intolerant to peanut or milk products, they will be asked not to go home immediately after finishing the experiment, but to continue to remain in (or around) the testing room for at least one hour whilst the study staff keep watch. Should there be any skin, respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms in any subject during that time, they will be immediately referred to the hospital. When leaving the testing room for the home, those subjects (or their mothers) will be given the project's mobile phone number to call in case there are any symptoms during the next few hours.

Potential subjects or their mothers (in the case of infants) will be asked if they feel ill using the screening questionnaire. Subjects who report any feeling of illness will be excluded. The Maternal and Child Health clinics (MCH) where subjects will be recruited provide mainly routine services for women (such as ante-natal services for pregnant women) and children (such as weight monitoring and promotion and vaccination). We expect that nearly all women and infants attending these clinics will be apparently in good health and not ill.

Phase 1 - Test-feeding: