Assessment of Clinical Outcome in Children with Severe Thinness on Medical Nutrition Therapy at 8 Weeks and 6 Months

Abstract

The term malnutrition involves both over nutrition, accompanying with overweight, obesity, and under-nutrition including acute and chronic malnutrition as well as micronutrient deficiencies. The present study was undertaken to assess clinical outcome at 8 weeks and 6 months in children with Severe Thinness on Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT). A total of 52 severe thinness (ST) children were enrolled and given MNT. The anthropometry was recorded at every visit and analyzed at two time points viz.8 weeks and 6 months. The body mass index has been measured using formula: weight (kg)/height(metre)2. Mean weight on enrolment was 15.85±4.08 kg. At 8 weeks, mean weight was 17.35±4.55 kg and at 6 months it was 19.33±5.12 kg. Mean height on enrolment was 114.33±14.06 cm while at 8 weeks was 115.27±14.06 cm and at 6 months was 120.21±15.29 cm. Mean BMI on enrolment was 11.92±0.44kg/m2 while at 8 weeks it improved to 12.89±0.67kg/m2; at 6 months, it continued improved to 13.26±0.96kg/m2. Rate of weight gain from enrolment to 8 weeks was 1.67 grams/kg/day and from 8 weeks to 6 months was 0.36 gm/kg/day (P<0.001). At end of 8 weeks, in 73.33% subjects BMI improved to thin and 17.8% became normal while 8.9 % continued to remain ST. At 6 months, 22.22% remained ST, 33.33% subjects remained thin and 44.44% became normal. Improvement in mean weight and mean BMI as well as rate of weight gain was significant indicating the role of indigenously prepared MNT in improving acute malnutrition.

A study to investigate variations in biochemical and nutritional profile among severely wasted children on medical nutrition therapy: a hospital-based study

“…org/ resou rces/ pdf/ mcn-ethio pia-sam-guide lines. pdf; Sawant et al 2021). Parents were counselled on good hygiene practices and switched to a home-based diet following 8 weeks.…”

“…Their effects in ST children are not studied widely. MNT was prepared indigenously in our production unit according to WHO standards for RUTF composition (Sawant et al 2021;Jadhav et al 2019). Steps involved are fine mixing of powdered sugar (28%), skimmed milk powder (24%), soybean oil (21%), Aflatoxin tested peanut butter (25%), emulsifier and micronutrients (2%) as per WHO specifications.…”

“…Steps involved are fine mixing of powdered sugar (28%), skimmed milk powder (24%), soybean oil (21%), Aflatoxin tested peanut butter (25%), emulsifier and micronutrients (2%) as per WHO specifications. They were grinded to achieve a particle size of up to 300 micron and packaging with nitrogen flush (Sawant et al 2021;Jadhav et al 2019). One sachet of 92 g provides 500 kcal and 14.6 gm of proteins.…”