Shvalb NF, Lazar L, Demol S, et al. - Findings demonstrate the effectiveness of nutritional supplementation of short and lean prepubertal 10–14.5-year-old boys with a multi-nutrient, protein-rich formula which resulted in increase in weight-SDS, fat-free-mass, muscle mass and BMI-SDS in them. In older participants, Δheight-SDS decline was avoided due to good consumption of the formula.

• This was a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

• A total of 160 short and lean prepubertal boys aged 10–14.5-year-old were enrolled; 126 (80%) completed 6 months’ nutritional intervention.

• Significantly more gain in weight-SDS, BMI-SDS, fat-free-mass and muscle mass was observed in ‘good’ formula consumers (intake of ≥50% of the recommended dose, n = 30) vs ‘poor’ consumers (n = 35) and the placebo group (n = 61).

• Maintained Δheight-SDS was evident in boys aged >11.4 years who were ‘good’ formula consumers.