Healthy and Affordable Protein Rich Foods for African Market

Overview

This study is to gather information on school feeding programs and to measure the effect on linear growth and cognitive performance when providing a high-quality milk protein source or a combination of a high-quality milk protein source and rice proteins as a nutritional supplement to school children in Ghana. Children will receive a meal with a protein powder supplement with vitamins and minerals mixed into it. Participation is expected to last for 9 months. 1200 Children aged 6-7 years attending school will be enrolled throughout twenty primary schools (60 per school). Participants will be randomized to one of four groups: Control: Vitamins/minerals-200 mg premix contain the required micronutrients as per UNICEF recommendations. For groups 1-3 the same vitamin/mineral mix will be used along with Group 1. Vitamins/minerals + Milk Protein (8.75 g)-the milk protein is a skim milk powder with the sugar lactose. Group 2. Vitamins/minerals + Milk/plant Protein (8.75g)-the milk protein is a skim milk protein powder and the plant protein is a rice protein concentrate and the sugar lactose. Group 3. Vitamins/minerals + Milk Protein (4.38g)-the milk protein is a skim milk protein powder with the sugar lactose. At baseline measurements-weight,height,mid-upper arm circumference,and body composition will be taken, fasting blood spot test will be administered to measure levels of Insulin and insulin like growth factor and other metabolic test, and computer based cognitive testing. Demographic information will be collected along with a dietary survey. Primary outcomes are cognitive performance on standardized tests and change in height-for-age z-score over the supplementation period, 9 months total. Questionnaires will be administered to collect demographic data and dietary information. At the mid-point all measurements will be taken again and cognitive testing will be repeated. At the end of the study all measurements will be taken again, cognitive testing repeated, blood spot samples taken again, and a short survey will be administered about the protein powders.