NCT02053857

Pilot Study of PUFA-optimized RUTF for Severe Acute Malnutrition

A Randomized, Double-blind Pilot Study of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid-optimized Ready-to-use Therapeutic Food, Compared to Standard RUTF, in the Therapy of Severe Acute Malnutrition

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 141 (actual)
• Sponsor: Washington University School of Medicine · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 6 Months – 59 Months
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

To test whether a ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids (RUTF-P) is as effective for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) as standard RUTF.

Detailed description

Since 2007, RUTF has been the recommended treatment for SAM. RUTF is not conducive to the growth of bacteria because of the low moisture content, does not require cooking, and has led to greater recovery rates than liquid milk formulations in direct comparisons. One expected benefit of the RUTF-P is improved outcomes due to the higher levels of essential fatty acids. The essential fatty acid profile (i.e., the level of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids) of RUTF-P may have important implications for cognitive development of children, especially infants, with SAM who consume these foods as their sole dietary source for several weeks. In particular, an excess of omega-6 fatty acids (from sources such as peanut and corn oil) and a minimum of omega-3 fatty acids (from sources like flax) may fail to support optimal cognitive development and neural function. In this prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled clinical effectiveness trial, we will compare two RUTF products in the treatment of SAM to test the effects of the two different RUTF products on essential fatty acid status.

Conditions

• Kwashiorkor
• Marasmus

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT	RUTF
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT	RUTF-P
DRUG	Amoxicillin

Timeline

• Start date: 2014-02-01
• Primary completion: 2014-07-01
• Completion: 2014-07-01
• First posted: 2014-02-04
• Last updated: 2014-09-29

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Malawi