Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods Fail to Improve Vitamin A and Iron Status Meaningfully during Treatment for Severe Acute Malnutrition in 6-59-Month-old Cambodian Children.

ABSTRACT: Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) remains a global health concern. Studies on the impact of ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs) on micronutrient status during SAM treatment are almost nonexistent. The objective was to investigate the impact of RUTFs on the iron and vitamin A status of 6-59-month-old children receiving SAM treatment. Biomarkers of vitamin A status (retinol-binding protein, RBP), iron status (ferritin and soluble transferrin receptor, sTfR), and inflammation (C-reactive protein, CRP, and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, AGP) were collected at admission and discharge (week 8) during an RUTF effectiveness trial. Vitamin A deficiency was defined as RBP <0.70 µmol/L, low body iron as body iron (BI) <0 mg/kg and deficient iron stores as ferritin <12 µg/L. Data were available for 110 a

SUBMITTER: Sigh S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9961841 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature