Around 0.5 million under-five children are currently suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in Bangladesh and are at risk of death. Children with SAM and complications should be treated in a health care facility. It is imperative, however, to manage children with SAM but without any complications in the community. This requires a ready-to-use-therapeutic food (RUTF) that conforms to standard recommendations on its composition. The prototype RUTF is peanut based, made outside Bangladesh, and has to be imported. By developing a RUTF using local food ingredients, test it for acceptability and efficacy in the treatment of children with SAM, hopefully make the treatment of SAM cost-effective and sustainable. Hypothesis: Does the locally developed ready-to-use-therapeutic foods (RUTFs) demonstrate similar or better acceptability and efficacy in the treatment of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) when compared to the prototype RUTF (Plumpynut)?
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AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Weight gain (g/kg/d)
Timeframe: Initially 3 months for the acceptability trial another 18 months will be required for the efficacy trial