(P02-013-25) Nutritional Status and Intestinal Microbiota in Children With High Prevalence of Malnutrition Supplemented With a Snack Based on Lupinus mutabilis Sweet – 2022–2023

Objectives: The objective of the present study was to test the potential effect of supplementation with a snack based on L. mutabilis, a traditional, protein rich Andean legume, on the nutritional status and intestinal microbiota of schoolchildren in an area with a high prevalence of malnutrition.

Methods: This was a randomized controlled clinical trial in which 114 schoolchildren aged 6 to 12 years of age were included to receive either a snack based on L. mutabilis (20g/d) (G1, n=71) plus a nutritional education intervention or only a nutritional education intervention (G2, n=43) for 16 weeks. The participating children's nutritional status and fecal microbiota composition were assessed before and after the interventions. Analysis of the intestinal microbiota was assessed in a subgroup of children using 16SrRNA complete gene sequencing in ONT GridION. Sequences were analyzed with QIIME2.

Results: Both types of intervention were well accepted by the participating children. Regardless of the treatment groups, there was a decrease in the percentage of children with obesity (7.0% vs. 1.7%) in all participating children. In G1, at the end of the intervention period, there was a decrease in the percentage of children with obesity (9.8 vs. 1.4 %) that was reflected by an increase in the percentage of children with overweight, while in G2 we did not observe important changes in the nutritional status of the children. Blood nutritional biochemistry was normal before and after the dietary interventions in both treatment groups. Preliminary results did not show statistically significant differences in alfa or beta diversity before and after the dietary interventions in both treatment groups.

Conclusions: Nutritional interventions are possible in children from an area with a high prevalence of malnutrition. Consumption of a snack based on L. mutabilis improves the nutritional status of children by decreasing the percentage of children with obesity without affecting the general pattern of their intestinal microbiota.

Funding Sources: Corporación Ecuatoriana para el Desarrollo de la Investigación y la Academia - CEDIA
Universidad Internacional del Ecuador - UIDE