Comparison of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food with Cereal Legume-based Khichri Among Malnourished Children
This study sought to compare the acceptability and energy intake of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) with cereal legume based khichri among malnourished children in urban low to middle socioeconomic neighborhoods in Delhi and concluded that RUTF and khichri were both well accepted by study children. The energy intake from RUTF was however higher due to its extra energy density.
The study involved 31 malnourished (defined as Weight for height (WHZ) < - 2 to -3 SD, with no clinical signs of infection or edema.) children aged 6 to 36 who were given weighed amounts of RUTF and khichri in unlimited amounts for 2 days, one meal of each on both days. Water was fed on demand. Caregivers interviews and observations were conducted on the second day.
The proportion of children who accepted RUTF eagerly was 58 % as against 77% for khichri. 42 % children on RUTF and 23 % on khichri accepted the meal but not eagerly. The median (IQR) energy intake over the two day period in children aged 6 to 36 months from RUTF was 305 (153, 534) kcal, and from khichri was 242 (150, 320) kcal (P=0.02).