This study evaluated an alternative food supplement added to the Quissamã's diet, which is consumed by malnourished children who participate in the Multimixture Subprogram, developed by Quissamã Municipal Health Authority, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The biological assay was carried out during 28 days with 42 male Rattus norvegicus, Wistar, 26 days old, obtained from the Experimental Nutrition Laboratory at the Fluminense Federal University, divided into seven groups: 1) Control Group (diet based on casein) added with vitamins and minerals; 2) CGvm added with Food Supplement; 3) Control Group added with Food Supplement; 4) Quissamã Group, based on Quissamã's Diet; 5) QG added with vitamins and minerals; 6) QGvm added with Food Supplement; and 7) QG added with Food Supplement. Water and food were offered ad libitum, and the weight of the animals and the food consumption were measured every two days. Blood was collected on the last day for biochemical analysis. The CGFS showed a significant weight loss (p< 0.05) compared with all the other groups and significantly higher hemoglobin and hematocrit levels compared with the other Control Groups. The QG presented the highest hemoglobin level and the QGFS showed the highest hematocrit level among all the Quissamã Groups. The supplementation of Quissamã's Diet was not relevant in this experiment.
weight gain; alternative supplementary feeding; hemoglobins; hematocrit
