薬理と治療

Abstract

Objective　Challenges to achieving a balanced nutrition in childhood are growing in Vietnam. Kale is a vegetable remarkable for its high vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant components. The objective of this study was to preliminary evaluate the effects of long-term consumption of kale on childrenʼs overall health. Method　A total of 602 healthy children from 2nd to 4th grade（6-9 years old）were selected from two elementary schools in Hanoi. Furthermore, these children were subdivided into two groups: （ⅰ）An intervention group that consumed kale juice for approximately 8 months, and （ⅱ）a control group that did not. The cumulative incidence rate of upper respiratory tract infections（URTI）and diarrhoea was also evaluated. In addition, measurements of the childrenʼs height, weight, decimal visual acuity, grip strength, and intelligence（using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children（WISC-4））were recorded pre- and post-intervention. Results　Compared to the control group, the cumulative incidence rate of URTIs and days of morbidity were also significantly lower in the intervention group. Furthermore, the children in the intervention group exhibited significant development in height, weight, and grip strength. A significantly low value was observed for children in the intervention group with poor unaided visual acuity（＜1.0）at the end of the study. Conclusion　These results show that kale juice may be useful in preserving childrenʼs health and development. Additional studies are required to determine the long-term effects.（UMIN ID：UMIN000023934）