Specially formulated foods for treating children with moderate acute malnutrition in low and middle income countries
Citation: Lazzerini M., Rubert L., Pani P. Specially formulated foods for treating children with moderate acute malnutrition in low‐ and middle‐income countries. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 6. Art. No.: CD009584.
Lipid‐based nutrient supplements (LNS) led to a clinically significant benefit in comparison with blended foods; LNS did not reduce mortality, the risk of default or progression to SAM. It also induced more vomiting. Blended foods may be equally effective and cheaper than LNS. Most of the research so far has focused on industrialised foods, and on short‐term outcomes of MAM.
There is no definitive consensus on the most effective way to treat children with moderate acute malnutrition. This review evaluates the safety and effectiveness of different specially formulated foods for children with moderate acute malnutrition in low- and middle-income countries and assesses whether foods complying or not complying with specific nutritional compositions, such as the WHO technical specifications, are safe and effective.