School of Health Science, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
J Hum Nutr Diet. 2019 Jun;32(3):295-302. doi: 10.1111/jhn.12635. Epub 2019 Feb 18.
Moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and anaemia are prevalent among infants and young children (IYC) in Uganda. A lack of consensus regarding the most effective strategy for managing MAM among IYC resulted in the present study comparing the effect of malted sorghum-based porridge (MSBP) (an active malt, extruded maize and soy sorghum supplementary porridge developed for the purpose of the present study) as an intervention versus an extruded maize and soy micronutrient fortified blend (CSB+) as a control and current standard care. Outcome measures were anthropometric status and haemoglobin levels.
The study comprised a double-blind cluster randomised control trial with eight to 10 conveniently sampled consenting mother-IYC pairs per cluster who were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 110) or control (n = 110) for 3 months. Weekly anthropometric measurements were taken. Haemoglobin levels were measured at baseline and end line. Mean length-for-age, weight-for-age, length-for-weight and mean haemoglobin levels of the treatment and control groups were compared using an independent t-test. The Z-test was used to compare proportions of the outcome indicators between the treatment and control groups.
Difference in mean weight-for-age Z-scores in the treatment group improved compared to control (P = 0.010). The change in mean haemoglobin levels was lower in the treatment versus the control group (P = 0.010). The proportion of IYC recovering from MAM between treatment and control did not differ significantly (P = 0.055).
Recovery rates after supplementation with MSBP versus CSB+ resulted in similar weight-for-length and haemoglobin levels. Therefore, MSBP has the potential for being scaled up in the management of IYC with MAM in Uganda.
在乌干达，中度急性营养不良（MAM）和贫血在婴幼儿中很普遍。由于缺乏共识，导致目前的研究比较了麦芽高粱基粥（MSBP）（一种活性麦芽、膨化玉米和大豆高粱补充粥，专为本次研究开发）作为干预措施与膨化玉米和大豆强化混合营养素（CSB +）作为对照和当前标准护理。结果测量是人体测量学状态和血红蛋白水平。
该研究采用双盲集群随机对照试验，每个集群有 8 到 10 对方便采样的同意母亲-婴幼儿对，随机分配到干预组（n = 110）或对照组（n = 110），为期 3 个月。每周进行人体测量学测量。在基线和终点线测量血红蛋白水平。使用独立 t 检验比较治疗组和对照组的平均年龄长度、年龄体重、长度体重和平均血红蛋白水平。使用 Z 检验比较治疗组和对照组之间的结局指标比例。
与对照组相比，治疗组的平均体重年龄 Z 评分差异有所改善（P = 0.010）。治疗组的平均血红蛋白水平变化低于对照组（P = 0.010）。治疗组和对照组之间从中度急性营养不良中恢复的婴幼儿比例没有显著差异（P = 0.055）。
MSBP 补充后与 CSB + 相比，体重长度和血红蛋白水平的恢复率相似。因此，MSBP 有可能在乌干达管理患有中度急性营养不良的婴幼儿中扩大规模。
