Comparison of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food with cereal legume-based khichri among malnourished children.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the acceptability and energy intake of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) with cereal legume based khichri among malnourished children.

DESIGN

An acceptability trial with cross-over design.

SETTING

Urban low to middle socioeconomic neighbor-hoods in Delhi.

SUBJECTS

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.

INTERVENTION

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.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Acceptability of RUTF compared to khichri based on direct observation and energy intake for test and control meals.

RESULTS

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).

CONCLUSION

RUTF and khichri were both well accepted by study children. The energy intake from RUTF was higher due to its extra energy density.