Comparison of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food with cereal legume-based khichri among malnourished children
Dube, B.; Rongsen, T.; Mazumder, S.; Taneja, S.; Rafiqui, F.; Bhandari, N.; Bhan, M.K.
Indian Pediatrics 46(5): 383-388
2009
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-6061 PMID: 19179743 Document Number: 629108
To compare the acceptability and energy intake of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) with cereal legume based khichri among malnourished children. An acceptability trial with cross-over design. Urban low to middle socioeconomic neighbor-hoods in Delhi. 31 children aged > or =6 to < or =36 months with malnutrition, defined as Weight for height (WHZ) < -2 to > or = -3 SD, with no clinical signs of infection or edema. Children were offered weighed amounts of RUTF and khichri in unlimited amounts for 2 days, one meal of each on both days. Water was fed on demand. Caregivers interviews and observations were conducted on the second day. Acceptability of RUTF compared to khichri based on direct observation and energy intake for test and control meals. The proportion of children who accepted RUTF eagerly was 58% as against 77% for khichri. 42% children on RUTF and 23% on khichri accepted the meal but not eagerly. The median (IQR) energy intake over the two day period in children aged 6 to 36 months from RUTF was 305 (153, 534) kcal, and from khichri was 242 (150, 320) kcal (P=0.02). RUTF and khichri were both well accepted by study children. The energy intake from RUTF was higher due to its extra energy density.