An egg a day might help undernourished young children grow to a healthy height, according to a six-month study in Ethiopia.
Whether soft or hard-boiled, fried or whisked into an omelette, eggs appeared to give infants a boost.
It could be a cheap way to prevent stunting, say researchers in the journal Peditrics
The first two years of life are critical for growth and development - any stunting is largely irreversible.
Poor nutrition is a major cause of stunting, along with childhood infections and illnesses.
The children that received eggs were found to be taller and heavier than the children that did not receive the eggs.
Both the yolk and the white of an egg are rich in nutrients – full of proteins, vitamins and minerals. The yolk contains cholesterol, fat soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids.
Over half the protein of an egg comes from the egg white. The whites are a source of vitamin D, B6, B12 and minerals such as zinc, iron and copper.
“[Eggs] are a good source of nutrients for growth and development in young children,” the lead author of the study, Lora Iannotti, said.
Eggs have the potential to contribute to reduced growth stunting around the world.
The results showed a reduced prevalence of stunting in children by 47% and underweight by 74%.
Children in the treatment group had a higher dietary intake of eggs and reduced intake of sugar-sweetened foods compared to the controlled group.
“We were surprised by just how effective this intervention proved to be,” Iannotti said.
“Our study carefully monitored allergic reactions to eggs, yet no incidents were observed or reported by caregivers during the weekly home visits,” she said.
Eggs are a complete food, safely packaged and arguably more accessible in resource-poor populations than other complementary foods, specifically fortified foods.
“Eggs seem to be a viable and recommended source of nutrition for children in developing countries.”
Feeding children an egg a day could prevent stunting, a condition resulting from poor nutrition which hinders cognitive growth, learning and economic potential, research shows.
Some 58 million children are stunted in Africa, costing $25 billion a year, according to the African Development Bank.
Olivier Hanotte, a scientist with ILRI in Addis Ababa, said crossbreeding Vanmechelen’s highly diverse birds with local varieties could result in a breed that is healthier and more resilient - but they must also be productive.
The main entrance of Incubated Worlds, an advanced poultry research and breeding facility in Ethiopia with art installation from Belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen, who has been cross breeding chickens for the past 20 years. Photo courtesy of the International Livestock Research Institute
“What we want is . . . an animal who produces eggs, which would grow relatively fast and can reach a weight of two to three kilos in a minimum amount of time,” he said.
Hanotte praised Vanmechelen for doing what scientists could not - creating a unique population of chickens that gives a snapshot of the genetic diversity of birds outside Ethiopia.
“That is a fantastic resource for us,” he said.
“There’s no way that as a scientist I would have gotten a grant for 20 years to do this sort of experiment.”
Chickens can also empower women, who are often their custodians in rural areas, as they reproduce quickly - hatching after 21 days incubation, he said.
“If you provide better chicken for these people, you give them a new way of income and empower women, who often reinvest in the children,” he said.
Whether soft or hard-boiled, fried or whisked into an omelette, eggs appeared to give infants a boost.
It could be a cheap way to prevent stunting, say researchers in the journal Peditrics
The first two years of life are critical for growth and development - any stunting is largely irreversible.
Poor nutrition is a major cause of stunting, along with childhood infections and illnesses.
The children that received eggs were found to be taller and heavier than the children that did not receive the eggs.
Both the yolk and the white of an egg are rich in nutrients – full of proteins, vitamins and minerals. The yolk contains cholesterol, fat soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids.
Over half the protein of an egg comes from the egg white. The whites are a source of vitamin D, B6, B12 and minerals such as zinc, iron and copper.
“[Eggs] are a good source of nutrients for growth and development in young children,” the lead author of the study, Lora Iannotti, said.
Eggs have the potential to contribute to reduced growth stunting around the world.
The results showed a reduced prevalence of stunting in children by 47% and underweight by 74%.
Children in the treatment group had a higher dietary intake of eggs and reduced intake of sugar-sweetened foods compared to the controlled group.
“We were surprised by just how effective this intervention proved to be,” Iannotti said.
“Our study carefully monitored allergic reactions to eggs, yet no incidents were observed or reported by caregivers during the weekly home visits,” she said.
Eggs are a complete food, safely packaged and arguably more accessible in resource-poor populations than other complementary foods, specifically fortified foods.
“Eggs seem to be a viable and recommended source of nutrition for children in developing countries.”
Feeding children an egg a day could prevent stunting, a condition resulting from poor nutrition which hinders cognitive growth, learning and economic potential, research shows.
Some 58 million children are stunted in Africa, costing $25 billion a year, according to the African Development Bank.
Olivier Hanotte, a scientist with ILRI in Addis Ababa, said crossbreeding Vanmechelen’s highly diverse birds with local varieties could result in a breed that is healthier and more resilient - but they must also be productive.
The main entrance of Incubated Worlds, an advanced poultry research and breeding facility in Ethiopia with art installation from Belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen, who has been cross breeding chickens for the past 20 years. Photo courtesy of the International Livestock Research Institute
“What we want is . . . an animal who produces eggs, which would grow relatively fast and can reach a weight of two to three kilos in a minimum amount of time,” he said.
Hanotte praised Vanmechelen for doing what scientists could not - creating a unique population of chickens that gives a snapshot of the genetic diversity of birds outside Ethiopia.
“That is a fantastic resource for us,” he said.
“There’s no way that as a scientist I would have gotten a grant for 20 years to do this sort of experiment.”
Chickens can also empower women, who are often their custodians in rural areas, as they reproduce quickly - hatching after 21 days incubation, he said.
“If you provide better chicken for these people, you give them a new way of income and empower women, who often reinvest in the children,” he said.
Last edited:
