Developmental and Nutritional Changes in Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition Provided with an N-3 Fatty Acids Improved RUTF and Psychosocial Support: A Pilot Study in Tanzania

Mwita, F.C.; PrayGod, G.; Sanga, E.; Setebe, T.; Joseph, G.; Kunzi, H.; Webster, J.; Gladstone, M.; Searle, R.; Ahmed, M.; Hokororo, A.; Filteau, S.; Friis, H.; Briend, A.; Olsen, M.F. Developmental and Nutritional Changes in Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition Provided with n-3 Fatty Acids Improved Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food and Psychosocial Support: A Pilot Study in Tanzania. Nutrients 2024, 16, 692. Mwita, F.C.; PrayGod, G.; Sanga, E.; Setebe, T.; Joseph, G.; Kunzi, H.; Webster, J.; Gladstone, M.; Searle, R.; Ahmed, M.; Hokororo, A.; Filteau, S.; Friis, H.; Briend, A.; Olsen, M.F. Developmental and Nutritional Changes in Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition Provided with n-3 Fatty Acids Improved Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food and Psychosocial Support: A Pilot Study in Tanzania. Nutrients 2024, 16, 692.

Abstract

Children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) are at high risk of impaired development. Contributing causes include inadequate intake of specific nutrients such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and lack of adequate stimulation. We conducted a pilot study assessing developmental and nutritional changes in children with SAM provided with a modified ready-to-use therapeutic food and a context-specific psychosocial intervention in Mwanza, Tanzania. We recruited 82 children with SAM (6-36 months) and 88 sex- and age-matched non-malnourished children. We measured child development, using the Malawi Development Assessment Tool (MDAT), measures of family and maternal care for children, and whole blood PUFA levels. At baseline, the mean total MDAT z-score of children with SAM was lower than non-malnourished children; -2.37 (95% confidence interval: -2.92; -1.82) as was their total n-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels. After 8 weeks’ intervention, MDAT z-scores improved in all domains, especially fine motor, among children with SAM. Total n-3, and EPA levels increased, total n-6 fatty acids decreased, and DHA remained unchanged. Family and maternal care also improved. The suggested benefits of the combined interventions on developmental and nutritional status of children with SAM will be tested in a future trial.

Keywords

Severe Acute Malnutrition, child development, fatty acids, ready-to-use therapeutic foods, psychosocial stimulation

Subject

Medicine and Pharmacology, Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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