NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTATION DURING THE PRESCHOOL YEARS INFLUENCES BODY-SIZE AND COMPOSITION OF GUATEMALAN ADOLESCENTS

Effects of supplementary feeding during early childhood on body size a nd composition at adolescence are examined in a population with marked growth failure in the first 3 y of life. The data came from a supplem entation trial conducted in rural Guatemala from 1969 to 1977 and a 19 88-89 follow-up study of the same subjects at adolescence. Two pairs o f villages participated in the trial. One village from each pair recei ved a high protein-energy supplement (Atole), which significantly impr oved dietary intakes, whereas the other village of the pair received a low-energy, no-protein supplement (Fresco), which did not impact appr eciably on dietary intakes. Children from Atole villages grew better d uring the preschool period than children from Fresco villages. At adol escence, subjects from Atole villages were taller, weighed more and ha d greater fat-free masses than subjects from Fresco villages. Differen ces in height at adolescence were slightly reduced in magnitude relati ve to differences at 3 y of age. However, differences in weight were i ncreased in adolescence relative to 3 y of age.