Effect of Traditional Complementary Porridges Enriched with Cashew Kernel (Anacardium occidental) and Vegetable Cortea (Corchorus olitorius L.) on the Nutritional Protein Profile and Inflammatory Status of Moderately Acutely Malnourished Children in Côte d’Ivoire

This study aims to study the effect of the enrichment of traditional porridge on the nutritional and inflammatory protein profile of Moderately Acutely Malnourished (MAM) aged 6 to 59 months with a view to their nutritional rehabilitation. To achieve this, four groups of 75 Moderately Acutely Malnourished (MAM) children were fed four types of porridge: non-enriched porridge (BC1), porridge enriched with Anacardium occidentalis (BC2), porridge enriched with Corchorus olitorius leaves (BC3) and porridge enriched with both Corchorus olitorius leaves and Anacardium occidental (BC4). Nutritional (Albumin, Transferrin, Prealbumin and Ferritin) and inflammatory (C-reactive protein, Orosomucoid) proteins were assayed in the serum before D0 and after 30 days (D30) of porridge consumption using Cobas C311 Hitachi from Roche diagnosis, France according to the method provided by the manufacturer. In terms of nutritional proteins, serum concentrations of pre-albumin or transthyretin which were below normal values on D0 with values between 0.11±0.01g/L (G1-BC1) and 0.19±0.47g /L (G4-BC4) experienced a significant increase at D30 in the groups of children who had consumed the enriched porridge (G2-BC2: 0.21±0.04g/L; G3-BC3: 0.25±0.38g/L; G4-BC4: 0.24±0.38g/L) compared to children in the control group (G1-BC1: 0.13±0.03g/L). Similarly, serum ferritin levels below normal values on D0 (G1-BC1: 49.45±7.25g/L; G2- BC2: 46.80±26.89g/L; G3-BC3: 35, 37±23.12g/L; G4-BC4: 38.18±12.81 g/L) underwent a significant increase at D30 but within the range of normal values (G1-BC1: 82.58±15.41g /l; G2-BC2: 93.90±47.20g/L; G3-BC3: 92.53±28.30g/L; G4-BC4: 100.79±28.57g/L). Albumin and transferrin concentrations remained within the normal range. As for the proteins of the inflammatory reaction, the orosomucoid concentrations on D0, which were higher than the normal value in the children of the control group (2.87±0.45g/L), of the G2-BC2 group (2. 19±0.30g/L) and in the G3-BC3 group (2.99±0.21g/L) experienced a significant drop at D30 (G1-BC1: 0.80±0.84 g/L; G2- BC2: 0.74±0.09g/L; G3-BC3: 0.71±0.38g/L. Concerning the C-reactive protein, its serum concentration remained within the limits of normal values despite its significant decrease. the values of the inflammatory and nutritional prognosis index (PINI) remained normal with values between 1 and 10 on D0 and below 1 on D30. Cashew almonds have improved the nutritional status of MAMs and reduced their risk of infection. These porridges can therefore be recommended not only for the nutritional rehabilitation of MAMs, but also for the prevention of child malnutrition.