Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the effectiveness of a locally made ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) in decreasing mild to moderate malnutrition.
Design
A randomized open label, controlled trial.
Setting
Pre-schools run by the Department of Community Health in Kaniyambadi administrative block, Vellore, India; duration of follow-up - 3 months from the date of recruitment.
Participants
Pupils aged 18–60 months with Weight-for-Age ≤2 SD.
Interventions
A locally produced energy-dense supplement (RUTF), and the current standard of care [teaching caregivers how to make a fortified cereal-milk supplement called High Calorie Cereal Milk (HCCM)].
Main outcome measures
Increase in weight-for-age status; increase in levels of plasma zinc, vitamin B12, serum albumin and haemoglobin.
Results
The Mean (SD) weight gain at 3 months was higher in the RUTF group: RUTF (n=51): 0.54 kg; (SE = 0.05; 95% CI = 0.44–0.65) vs HCCM (n=45): 0.38 kg; (SE = 0.06; 95% CI = 0.25–0.51), P = 0.047. The weight gain per kilogram of body weight was directly proportional to the severity of malnutrition.
Conclusions
Community-based treatment showed weight gain in both groups, the gain being higher with RUTF.
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Registered at the Clinical Trials Registry of India; Registration number: CTRI/2009/09/000007.
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Singh, A.S., Kang, G., Ramachandran, A. et al. Locally made ready-to-use therapeutic food for treatment of malnutrition: A randomized controlled trial . Indian Pediatr 47, 679–686 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-010-0100-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-010-0100-8