Malian children with moderate acute malnutrition who are treated with lipid-based dietary supplements have greater weight gains and recovery rates than those treated with locally produced cereal-legume products: a community-based, cluster-randomized trial
Robert S Ackatia-Armah, Christine M McDonald, Seydou Doumbia, Juergen G Erhardt, Davidson H Hamer, and Kenneth H Brown
This study found that RUSF was more effective in the management of Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM). The objective of the study was to compare the effects of 4 dietary supplements for the treatment of MAM. Twelve community health centers in rural Mali were randomly assigned to provide 4 dietary supplements containing ∼500 kcal/d for 12 wk: 1) ready-to-use, lipid-based supplementary food (RUSF); 2) special corn-soy blend (CSB++); 3) locally processed, fortified flour (Misola); or 4) locally milled flours plus oil, sugar, and micronutrient powder (LMF) to MAM children aged 6-35 months. Link to the paper