Supplementary feeding with fortified spreads results in higher recovery rates than with a corn/soy blend in moderately wasted children

Abstract

Moderate childhood wasting is defined as having a weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ) -2. Time-event analysis was used to compare the recovery rate. A total of 1362 children were enrolled in the study. Children receiving soy/peanut FS had a similar recovery rate to those receiving milk/ peanut FS and children in either FS group were more likely to recover than those receiving CSB (80% in both FS groups vs. 72% in the CSB group; P < 0.01). The rate of weight gain in the first 2 wk was greater among children receiving milk/ peanut FS (2.6 g-kg -1-d -1, n = 465) or children receiving soy/peanut FS (2.4 g-kg -1-d -1, n = 450) than among children receiving CSB (2.0 g-kg -1 -d -1, n = 447; P < 0.05). Rates of length gain did not differ among the 3 groups. A total of 8% of children in each feeding group developed edema, indicative of severe malnutrition, while receiving supplemental feeding. We conclude that FS are superior supplementary foods to CSB for moderately wasted Malawian children. © 2009 American Society for Nutrition.