Alternative RUTFs for Treatment of Child Wasting

Launched by INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE · Apr 2, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying new types of ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs) to treat children suffering from acute malnutrition, which is a serious condition that can be life-threatening. The trial will compare two alternative RUTFs made from soy, maize, and sorghum, as well as a soy-based RUTF, to the standard peanut and milk-based RUTF currently used. Researchers want to find out if these new foods are just as effective for helping children recover and whether they help prevent children from becoming malnourished again after treatment. The goal is to make treatment more affordable and sustainable.

To be eligible for the study, children aged 6 to 59 months must show signs of moderate or severe acute malnutrition but not have any serious health issues that require hospitalization. Caregivers must also be willing to consent to their child's participation. Participants will receive one of the RUTFs for treatment, with regular check-ups during and after the treatment period to monitor their progress. The trial will take place in health facilities in Burkina Faso, and it aims to provide important information that could improve how malnutrition is treated in the future, especially in regions where resources are limited.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age 6-59 months
• • MUAC \< 12.5 cm, or WLZ/WHZ \< -2
• • Absence of clinical complications or nutritional edema
• • Pass the appetite test
• • Accompanied by caregiver or legal guardian
• • Caregiver or legal guardian consents to participate
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Acute malnutrition requiring hospitalization (presence of clinical complications, failure to pass the appetite test, or presence of bilateral pitting edema)
• • Known allergy to any of the ingredients in the RUTF products
• • Already enrolled in MAM or SAM treatment program
• • Presence of physical abnormalities that make measurement of anthropometry impossible
• • Caregiver has intention to move out of the study area within the next 6 months
• • Children referred from in-patient facilities to continue in ambulatory care