Effect of fortified bovine colostrum on linear growth of children aged 9 to 36 mo: a community-based 3-arm randomized controlled trial in urban slums of Belagavi city, India.
Am J Clin NutrJul 6, 2026 (epub)
Deshna Oswal, Mubashir Angolkar, Niranjana Mahantashetti et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the impact of fortified bovine colostrum (FBC) on the linear growth of children aged 9 to 36 months in urban slums of Belagavi, India. The study found that after 9 months, mean height-for-age z-scores (HAZ) improved significantly with FBC, showing an adjusted difference of 0.32 compared to placebo.
Key findings
- Mean HAZ improved by 0.32 for FBC and 0.39 for fortified milk powder compared to placebo.
- Both intervention groups showed significant HAZ improvements from 3 months onward.
- The placebo group remained close to baseline in HAZ throughout the study.
- No significant differences in HAZ were found between FBC and fortified milk powder.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that supplementation with fortified bovine colostrum or fortified milk powder can effectively enhance growth in young children at risk of stunting, addressing a critical public health issue in urban slum populations.