Improving Iron Absorption in Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods for Malnourished Children in Kenya

What this Trial Is About

Reports from the Kenya Red Cross Society in Kwale County suggest that the current Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods RUTFs may have limited impact on malnutrition or anemia in children, possibly due to high iron content and poor iron absorption in severely acutely malnourished SAM children, which can cause dangerous diarrhea. This study aims to develop an improved RUTF treatment that addresses both acute malnutrition and anemia safely and effectively by assessing iron absorption in children with different nutritional statuses. The study compares healthy children with those suffering from moderate or severe acute malnutrition. Participants will receive RUTF containing a special form of iron 57Fe to measure fractional iron absorption at multiple time points Day 0, 20, 40, and 60. Malnourished children will undergo daily RUTF treatment for 80 days. The study tracks changes in iron absorption and nutritional status throughout this period. Participants will be monitored through measurements of fractional iron absorption, hemoglobin levels, serum ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor, inflammatory markers, body weight, and height at scheduled days from the start until Day 80. These assessments will help researchers understand how malnutrition affects iron absorption and how the RUTF treatment impacts anemia and overall health. The study period extends from December 2025 to June 2026.

Maximizing the Benefits of Iron in Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods for Malnourished Children in Kenya