Children in Niger who received a daily nutritional supplement
for three months had a lower rate of weight loss and a reduced
risk of wasting compared to children who did not receive the
supplementation, according to a study in the January 21 issue of
JAMA. Wasting (defined as a certain deviation that a child's
weight is from the median [midpoint] weight of a child of the
same height in a reference group) is characterized by the loss
of weight and muscle mass. It affects approximately 10 percent
of the world's children younger than 5 years and is an important
factor in the risk of disease and death among this population.
Ready-to-use-therapeutic foods (RUTFs) have been shown effective
in the treatment of severe and moderate wasting, according to
background information in the article. These foods are energy-
dense, micronutrient-enriched pastes often made up of peanuts,
oil, sugar and milk powder. The effectiveness of RUTFs in
preventing moderate and severe wasting in children has not been
previously evaluated.