Effect of eggs on Maya child development and growth: the Saqmolo' Project randomized clinical trial

Authors

• Gabriela Montenegro-Bethancourt, Center for Indigenous Health Research, Wuqu' Kawoq/Maya Health Alliance, Tecpán, Guatemala.
• Gabriela V. Proaño, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.
• Elizabeth Yakes Jimenez, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Chicago, IL, USA.
• Taylor C. Wallace, Think Healthy Group, LLC, Washington, DC, USA.
• Alison Steiber, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Chicago, IL, USA.
• Xingya Ma, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
• Ming Ji, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
• Peter Rohloff, Center for Indigenous Health Research, Wuqu' Kawoq/Maya Health Alliance, Tecpán, Guatemala.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2-1-2026

Journal

Lancet regional health. Americas

Volume

54

DOI

10.1016/j.lana.2025.101339

Keywords

Child development; Diet; Eggs; Growth; The Saqmolo’ Project

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There is worldwide interest in determining whether frequent egg provision during complementary feeding enhances child development and growth in low-resource settings. We evaluated effects of adding one whole egg per day to local standard nutrition care on infant outcomes. METHODS: The Saqmolo' Project individually randomized, partially blinded, comparative effectiveness clinical trial was conducted in rural Guatemala from 2021 to 2023. Maya infants aged 6-9 months were randomized to standard nutrition care alone (growth monitoring, complementary and responsive feeding education, deworming medication, multiple micronutrient powders, and referrals for medical care) versus standard care plus one whole egg per day for 6 months. Mixed linear or logistic regression models were used to estimate between-group differences in primary (global development score) and secondary (growth, anemia status, and diet quality) outcomes. FINDINGS: This trial included 1200 Maya infants (51.3% male). After adjustment for baseline values and participant characteristics, there was no significant between-group difference in global development score (β -0.08 points [95% CI -0.22 to 0.06]). There were also no significant between-group differences for most secondary outcomes. Intervention participants did have significantly higher odds of stunting (odds ratio [OR] 1.42 [95% CI 1.10-1.82]; p = 0.007) and of meeting minimum dietary diversity (OR 1.41 [95% CI 1.20-1.65]; p < 0.001) and minimum adequate diet (OR 1.44 [95% CI 1.26-1.64]; p < 0.001) benchmarks than standard care participants. INTERPRETATION: Provision of one whole egg per day in addition to standard care improved diet quality but did not benefit development, growth, or anemia status among Maya infants. FUNDING: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation via an Egg Nutrition Center investigator-initiated research grant.

APA Citation

Montenegro-Bethancourt, Gabriela; Proaño, Gabriela V.; Jimenez, Elizabeth Yakes; Wallace, Taylor C.; Steiber, Alison; Ma, Xingya; Ji, Ming; and Rohloff, Peter, "Effect of eggs on Maya child development and growth: the Saqmolo' Project randomized clinical trial" (2026). GW Authored Works. Paper 8782.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/8782

Department

Clinical Research and Leadership