Effectiveness of a locally produced, fish-based food product on weight gain among Cambodian children in the treatment of acute malnutrition: A randomized controlled trial

TY - JOUR

T1 - Effectiveness of a locally produced, fish-based food product on weight gain among Cambodian children in the treatment of acute malnutrition

T2 - A randomized controlled trial

AU - Sigh, Sanne

AU - Roos, Nanna

AU - Chamnan, Chhoun

AU - Laillou, Arnaud

AU - Prak, Sophanneary

AU - Wieringa, Frank T

N1 - CURIS 2018 NEXS 246

PY - 2018/7/16

Y1 - 2018/7/16

N2 - Cambodia continues to have a high prevalence of acute malnutrition. Low acceptability has been found for standard ready-to-use-therapeutic-food (RUTF) products. Therefore, NumTrey, a locally-produced fish-based RUTF, was developed. The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of NumTrey compared to an imported milk-based RUTF for weight gain among children aged 6–59 months in the home-treatment for acute malnutrition. Effectiveness was tested in a single-blinded randomized controlled trial with weight gain as the primary outcome. Anthropometry was assessed at baseline and bi-weekly follow-ups until endline at Week 8. In total, 121 patients were randomized into BP-100™ (n = 61) or NumTrey (n = 60). There was no statistical difference in mean weight gain between the groups (1.06 g/kg/day; 95% CI (0.72, 1.41) and 1.08 g/kg/day; 95% CI (0.75, 1.41) for BP-100™ and NumTrey, respectively). In addition, no statistically significant differences in secondary outcomes were found. Although the ability to draw conclusions was limited by lower weight gain than the desired 4 g/kg/day in both groups, no superiority was found for eitherRUTF. A locally produced RUTF is highly relevant to improve nutrition interventions in Cambodia. A locally produced fish-based RUTF is a relevant alternative to imported milk-based RUTF for the treatment of SAM in Cambodia.

AB - Cambodia continues to have a high prevalence of acute malnutrition. Low acceptability has been found for standard ready-to-use-therapeutic-food (RUTF) products. Therefore, NumTrey, a locally-produced fish-based RUTF, was developed. The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of NumTrey compared to an imported milk-based RUTF for weight gain among children aged 6–59 months in the home-treatment for acute malnutrition. Effectiveness was tested in a single-blinded randomized controlled trial with weight gain as the primary outcome. Anthropometry was assessed at baseline and bi-weekly follow-ups until endline at Week 8. In total, 121 patients were randomized into BP-100™ (n = 61) or NumTrey (n = 60). There was no statistical difference in mean weight gain between the groups (1.06 g/kg/day; 95% CI (0.72, 1.41) and 1.08 g/kg/day; 95% CI (0.75, 1.41) for BP-100™ and NumTrey, respectively). In addition, no statistically significant differences in secondary outcomes were found. Although the ability to draw conclusions was limited by lower weight gain than the desired 4 g/kg/day in both groups, no superiority was found for eitherRUTF. A locally produced RUTF is highly relevant to improve nutrition interventions in Cambodia. A locally produced fish-based RUTF is a relevant alternative to imported milk-based RUTF for the treatment of SAM in Cambodia.

KW - Faculty of Science

KW - Severe acute malnutrition

KW - Fish

KW - Ready-to-use therapeutic food

KW - Effectiveness

KW - Weight gain

KW - Cambodia

U2 - 10.3390/nu10070909

DO - 10.3390/nu10070909

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 30012981

SN - 2072-6643

VL - 10

JO - Nutrients

JF - Nutrients

IS - 7

M1 - 909

ER -