TITLE:
Weight Gain in Malnourished Children after 5 Months Food Supplementation in a Slum Setting in Bangladesh
AUTHORS:
Mustafa Mahfuz, Tahmeed Ahmed, A. M. Shamsir Ahmed, M. Munirul Islam, M. I. Hossain
KEYWORDS:
Malnutrition, RUTF, Supplementation, Underweight, Bangladesh
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.5 No.14,
August
13,
2014
ABSTRACT:
We examined the
rate of weight gain and absolute weight gain of underweight children (weight- for-age
Z score Pushti packet which was
recommended in the National Nutritional Program. No food supplementation was
provided to control children. All children received vitamin A as part of the
six-monthly national program, albendazole for deworming, immunization, and health
and nutrition education. Multiple micronutrient powder (MNP) was provided only
to Pushti packet and control children. The rate of weight gain on RUTF
was 1.69 g/kg/day during the first month and gradually declined to 0.9 g/kg/day
at the final month of the trial, whereas, the rate of weight gain on Pushti packet was 0.77 g/kg/day during the first month declining to 0.70 g/kg/day
at the end of the trial. Rate of weight gain in the control group was steady
between 0.47 - 0.50 g/kg/day. Absolute weight gains of 1085 g, 790 g and 730 g
were observed in the RUTF, Pushti packet and the control groups,
respectively which were significantly higher in the RUTF group. There was no
statistically significant difference between the RUTF and Pushti packet groups
in terms of rate of weight gain. Overall, weight gain was unsatisfactory for
both supplementation groups. Better absolute weight gain was observed with RUTF
supplementation compared to Pushti packet which prevented further
deterioration in weight among the malnourished children.