Child Malnutrition: New Food Prototypes and Broader Issues
Moderate acute malnutrition, a type of undernutrition resulting from illness or insufficient amounts of food consumption, affects at least 30 million children worldwide, a number only increased by the COVID-19 pandemic. It can cause a decrease in growth and neural development, along with a decrease in the development of microorganisms in the gut. Current treatments for acute malnutrition often involve food supplements or diets that provide nutrients and energy, such as nutrient bars or biscuits. No current treatments have focused on targeting the gut microorganisms hurt by malnutrition, nor have any been able to fully treat the long-term effects of undernourishment.
The New England Journal of Medicine recently published research conducted by the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis about a newly developed food supplement called microbiota-directed complementary food (MDCF-2). MDCF-2 is a paste made with nutritious ingredients, some of which specifically promote the growth and function of beneficial bacteria that are helpful for healthy weight gain. Researchers compared the effects of MDCF-2 to a ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF), a type of commonly used nutrient-packed food supplement. The researchers hypothesized that MDCF-2 would be a better promoter of growth than RUSF because of its additional focus on the gut microbiome.
The researchers then tested the effects of these two supplements on Bangladeshi children between the ages of 12 to 18 months old with moderate acute malnutrition to find any resulting differences in their growth and development. After three months, they noticed that children who ate MDCF-2 supplements increased more in weight relative to their body length and age in comparison to children who ate RUSF, showing that those who ate MDCF-2 were in a healthier weight range than those who ate RUSF.
The New England Journal of Medicine recently published research conducted by the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis about a newly developed food supplement called microbiota-directed complementary food (MDCF-2). MDCF-2 is a paste made with nutritious ingredients, some of which specifically promote the growth and function of beneficial bacteria that are helpful for healthy weight gain. Researchers compared the effects of MDCF-2 to a ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF), a type of commonly used nutrient-packed food supplement. The researchers hypothesized that MDCF-2 would be a better promoter of growth than RUSF because of its additional focus on the gut microbiome.
The researchers then tested the effects of these two supplements on Bangladeshi children between the ages of 12 to 18 months old with moderate acute malnutrition to find any resulting differences in their growth and development. After three months, they noticed that children who ate MDCF-2 supplements increased more in weight relative to their body length and age in comparison to children who ate RUSF, showing that those who ate MDCF-2 were in a healthier weight range than those who ate RUSF.
MDCF-2 includes ingredients such as chickpeas, peanuts, and bananas, which are ground into a paste.
The researchers also took fecal samples from every child to compare the children's body protein levels, and found that MDCF-2 increased levels of certain proteins that aid in bone growth and neurodevelopment, while decreasing levels of proteins associated with inflammation. Gut microorganism development was also supported by MDCF-2. RUSF was found to have much fewer significant effects in these areas, suggesting that it was not as effective in advancing healthy growth as MDCF-2.
Based on the difference in weight between children treated with MDCF-2 and children treated with RUSF supplements, the researchers were able to conclude that MDCF-2 promoted growth. However, they also found that stopping the use of supplements eventually decreased these positive effects, indicating that children would have to continue taking the supplements to maintain these effects. The researchers also stated that future studies should determine whether the levels of proteins involved in neurodevelopment truly reflect an increase in cognitive abilities. Although the results show that MDCF-2 is beneficial and could potentially become a widespread treatment for acute malnutrition, they also raise awareness of bigger issues, like the vast socioeconomic disparities between many countries. How can these new developments in research be made accessible to countries who need them most? How can the global community help countries facing famine or malnutrition build sustainable food practices? These questions will need to be answered and more research will need to be done to successfully create a long-term solution to malnutrition.
Based on the difference in weight between children treated with MDCF-2 and children treated with RUSF supplements, the researchers were able to conclude that MDCF-2 promoted growth. However, they also found that stopping the use of supplements eventually decreased these positive effects, indicating that children would have to continue taking the supplements to maintain these effects. The researchers also stated that future studies should determine whether the levels of proteins involved in neurodevelopment truly reflect an increase in cognitive abilities. Although the results show that MDCF-2 is beneficial and could potentially become a widespread treatment for acute malnutrition, they also raise awareness of bigger issues, like the vast socioeconomic disparities between many countries. How can these new developments in research be made accessible to countries who need them most? How can the global community help countries facing famine or malnutrition build sustainable food practices? These questions will need to be answered and more research will need to be done to successfully create a long-term solution to malnutrition.
Featured Image Source: Ahmed akacha
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