Supplementary feeding of underweight, stunted Malawian XXXX with a ready-to-use food.

@entity1 @entity2829 @entity219 @entity1017 @entity3147 @entity68
OBJECTIVE: @entity2829 and soy flour mixes are often used in the treatment of moderate @entity3147 in Malawi. Their efficacy has not been formally evaluated. A recently developed ready-to-use food (RTUF) effectively promotes growth among severely malnourished @entity1 . The authors compared the effect of @entity2829 and soy flour with that of RTUF in the home treatment of moderately malnourished @entity1 . METHODS: Sixty-one underweight, stunted @entity1 42 to 60 months of age were recruited in rural Malawi, in southeastern Africa. They received either RTUF or @entity2829 and soy flour for 12 weeks. Both supplements provided 2 MJ (500Kcal) of energy daily but had different energy and nutrient densities. Outcome variables were weight and @entity1017 and dietary intake. RESULTS: Before intervention, the mean dietary intake and weight and @entity1017 were similar in the two groups. During the supplementation phase, the consumption of staple food fell among @entity1 receiving @entity2829 and soy flour but not among those receiving RTUF. There was thus higher intake of energy, fat, @entity68 , and @entity219 in the RTUF group. Both supplements resulted in modest @entity1017 , but the effect lasted longer after RTUF supplementation. Height gain was not affected in either group. Periodic 24-hour dietary recalls suggested that the @entity1 received only 30% and 43%, respectively, of the supplementary RTUF and @entity2829 and soy flour provided. CONCLUSIONS: RTUF is an acceptable alternative to @entity2829 and soy flour for dietary supplementation of moderately malnourished @entity1 . Approaches aimed at increasing the consumption of supplementary food by the selected recipients are needed.
