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Locally made ready to use therapeutic food for treatment of malnutrition a randomized controlled trial

Azara Sneha Singh1, Gagandeep Kang, Anup Ramachandran

  • 1Departments of Gastrointestinal Sciences and Community Health, Christian Medical College, Vellore TN 632004, India.

Indian Pediatrics
|October 26, 2010
PubMed

Insights

A locally made ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) significantly improved weight gain in children with mild to moderate malnutrition compared to standard care. This community-based intervention demonstrates RUTF

Area of Science:

  • Nutritional Science
  • Pediatric Health
  • Public Health Interventions

Background:

  • Malnutrition remains a significant global health challenge, particularly in developing regions.
  • Early intervention is crucial for mitigating the long-term effects of malnutrition on child development.
  • Effective and accessible therapeutic foods are essential for community-based treatment programs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the efficacy of a locally produced ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) in addressing mild to moderate malnutrition among young children.
  • To compare the effectiveness of RUTF with the current standard of care in improving nutritional status.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized, open-label, controlled trial was conducted in pre-schools in Vellore, India.
  • Participants included children aged 18-60 months with a Weight-for-Age Z-score of -2 SD.
  • Interventions involved either RUTF or a fortified cereal-milk supplement (High Calorie Cereal Milk - HCCM) for 3 months.

Main Results:

  • Children receiving RUTF exhibited a statistically significant higher mean weight gain (0.54 kg) over 3 months compared to the HCCM group (0.38 kg).
  • Weight gain per kilogram of body weight was found to be directly proportional to the initial severity of malnutrition.
  • The study observed improvements in weight-for-age status in both intervention groups.

Conclusions:

  • Community-based treatment for mild to moderate malnutrition resulted in weight gain in both RUTF and HCCM groups.
  • Ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) demonstrated superior effectiveness in promoting weight gain compared to the standard care (HCCM).
  • These findings support the integration of locally produced RUTF into community health programs for improved child nutrition.
Abstract

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