Dietary Diversification Impact on Lipid and Carbohydrate Profiles of School-aged Children in Nawa Region (Cote d’Ivoire)

In Cote d’Ivoire, there is an imbalance between food intake and nutritional needs among school-aged children. Studies have indicated that dietary diversification could provide a solution. A study was therefore conducted to evaluate the impact of dietary diversification on the lipid and carbohydrate profiles of children in school canteens in the Nawa region. This study was conducted during October 2017 to May 2018 in school canteens of 12 localities in the Nawa region (Cote d’Ivoire). It included 240 school-aged children, 6 -12 years old, divided into four groups of 60. Four types of meals were offered, one for each of the four groups: rice with tomato sauce and fish, sweet potato stew enriched with green soybeans, sweet potato stew enriched with white cowpea, and sweet potato stew enriched with cowpea and soybeans. Blood samples were taken at the beginning, mid-term, and the end of the study. The blood tests measured were triglycerides, cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL), and blood glucose using the COBAS c311 analyzer. The results revealed that blood glucose (0.75 - 1.10 g/L), total cholesterol (1.06 - 2.50 g/L), and triglyceride (0.30 - 1.34 g/L) levels remained normal in children during the experimental period, with the exception of blood glucose in phase 2 of group 4. This value was significantly lower (P < 0.05), ranging from 0.72 to 0.68 g/L, compared to group 1 (control). In contrast, groups 2 and 3 experienced significant increases (P < 0.05) (from 0.75 to 0.79 g/L and from 0.83 to 0.85 g/L, respectively), compared to group 1 (control). Furthermore, in all children across the different groups, regardless of the sampling period, a decrease in HDL-c and LDL-c levels was observed, with the exception of the last sampling phase (P2) for group 4, which showed significantly increased HDL-c and LDL-c levels, respectively (from 0.29 to 0.65 g/L and from 0.63 to 1.47 g/L). A normalization of the lipid and carbohydrate profile was observed in the children who consumed the different meals offered during the study. The meal based on sweet potato, soybeans, and cowpea could be chosen as a means of dietary diversification in school canteens to improve school-aged children lipid and carbohydrate status.