Ready to Use Supplementary Food in Moderate Childhood Malnutrition

Effectiveness of a Ready-to-Use-Supplementary-Food for the Treatment of Moderate Childhood Malnutrition

Since 2001, Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) are widely used to treat severe malnutrition. Their efficacy and effectiveness were proven in community therapeutic care programs. Recently, the question rose if RUTF would be more effective than enriched flours to treat moderate malnutrition. The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of Ready to Use Food Supplementary-plumpy® and Premix Corn Soy Blend with oil in term of cure rate, weight gain, duration of treatment, morbidity and mortality in the treatment of moderate acute malnutrition. Compare the longer term effect on nutritional status and morbidity (relapse?).

Children received two Supplementary-plumpy® packages per day (184g) providing 1000 Kcal, 26g (10.4%) protein, 68g (61.2%) fat, and 100% of micronutrient requirements based on the Daily Recommended Nutrient Intake.

Children received 2 kg of premix per week (226g CSB, 37g oil, and 23g sugar / day) providing 1277 Kcal, 40.7g protein (12.7%), 50.6g (35.7%) fat, and 100% of micronutrient according to the DRNI guidelines

Inclusion Criteria: all children aged 6 months to 5 years admitted to SFC outpatient care during the study period WHM between 70-79% (1977 NCHS/WHO standard) without edema approval from the caretaker Exclusion Criteria: presence of the following signs: bilateral edema, MUAC<110 mm , WHM< 70%(criteria for severe malnutrition), and medical complications necessitating hospitalisation refusal to participate from caretaker