Double-Blind Parallel Treatment Randomized Controlled Trial of Prebiotics’ Efficacy for Children Experiencing Severe Acute Malnutrition in Southern Punjab, Pakistan

Bibliographic Data

ID15716543
AuthorsMunazza Batool (University of the Punjab), Javeria Saleem (0000-0003-4295-7057, University of the Punjab), Rubeena Zakar (0000-0001-9546-3742, University of the Punjab), Sanaullah Iqbal (0000-0001-8455-8885, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences), Ruhma Shahzad (0000-0001-6357-3947, University of the Punjab), Muhammad Salman Butt (0000-0002-4673-0805, University of the Punjab), Shahroz Haider (Nishtar Medical College and Hospital), Florian Fischer (0000-0002-4388-1245, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume10
Issue5
Pages783-783
Publication date2023-04-26
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueChildren (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2227-9067 • E-ISSN: 2227-9067
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/children10050783
PMID37238332
OpenAlexW4367181451
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited22

The prevalence of malnutrition among children under five is alarmingly high in Pakistan. However, there are ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF) available which may be used to treat children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM). This study aims to assess the efficacy of prebiotics as a synergistic additive to RUTF to enhance blood parameters and anthropometric measurements in children with uncomplicated SAM living in Southern Punjab, Pakistan. A double-blind parallel treatment randomized controlled trial was conducted on 204 children aged 6-59 months. Participants were randomized and allocated to the placebo ( n = 102) or experimental arms ( n = 102) in a 1:1 ratio. One group of children was provided with RUTF and 4 g prebiotics, while the other group was given RUTF and starch as a placebo. Participants recruited for both arms were given treatment for eight weeks, and then their biochemical and anthropometric outcomes were evaluated. A substantial difference between the mean weight, mid-upper-arm circumference, haemoglobin, haematocrit, platelet count, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, and albumin was revealed. During the two-month follow-up phase of the trial, children who were enrolled in the treatment group gained about 20% of their initial weight (pre-study mean weight = 5.44 ± 1.35 kg; post-study mean weight = 6.53 ± 1.45 kg). The analysis showed a significant difference ( p < 0.005) between the control and treatment groups for MUAC and complete blood counts. Conclusively, supplementation with RUTF and prebiotics has proven to be an efficient, effective, and safe therapy for children suffering from SAM to improve their growth and development indicators and reduce the dangers of malnutrition in comparison to RUTF alone

Alternative medicine · Double blind · Malnutrition · Pathology · Placebo · Randomized controlled trial · Severe Acute Malnutrition · Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Medicine · Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology · Internal Medicine · Pediatrics

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