Nutrient absorption from a fat-enriched diet in young malnourished children: a randomized controlled trial

A randomized, controlled trial was undertaken to compare nutrient absorption from low fat (22.2% energy as fat) and high fat (48% energy as fat)-containing mixed diets in 39 (26M, 13F) malnourished children aged < 2 y. Subjects of both dietary groups, standard (SDG, n = 18) and experimental (EDG, n = 21), were offered 184.5 ml of feeds/kg body weight/24 h that provided 146 kcal with the low fat diet and 216 kcal with the high fat diet, respectively. The baseline clinical and biochemical parameters and the volume of feeds consumed by the patients in the two groups were comparable. Thus, the subjects in the EDG were ingesting a mean (95% CI) of 50% (23.8%, 76.2%) extra energy than that eaten by the SDG. Coefficients of absorption of energy, nitrogen and carbohydrate were similar in the two dietary groups (p = 0.08-0.98). Median (binomial exact 95% CI) fat absorption among subjects receiving the high fat diet (96.3; 92.9, 98.6) was 7% more than in those consuming the low fat diet (89.3; 86.7, 94.1) (p = 0.01). Subjects of the EDG thus, retained almost 50% additional energy as compared to that by SDG.