Nutritive and Antinutritive Values of Ready-to-use Foods Based on Local Ingredients for the Recovery of Moderate Acute Malnourished Children in Cote d Ivoire

Moderate acute malnutrition is one of the most common nutritional disorders among young children in Côte d'Ivoire. For treating this condition, ready-to-use foods have been found to be the most effective. However, their high cost and the recurrent stock breaks lead to national unavailability whose local production can fill and ensure sustainable care. This study has been set to assess the nutritional and anti-nutrient value of ready-to-use foods formulated with locally available ingredients. For doing this, four formulae meeting the recommended nutritive needs for moderately acutely malnourished children aged 6 to 59 months have been produced using traditional methods and household equipment. The cocoa (LF-1 and LF-3) and cashew (LF-2 and LF-4) formulae contained rice, soy, sugar, oil, and egg. The latter has been added to FL-3 and FL-4. All formulae presented biochemical compositions (proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and energy except fiber and ash) close to Plumpy’Sup®.

Zero hunger and malnutrition in the African continent is potentially feasible, if nutrition programs are prioritized politically and scientifically

African countries and in particular the Sub Sahara ones contribute to the largest proportion of the global burden of poverty and associated diet-related diseases in all its forms, including micronutrient malnutrition. Malnutrition rates remain alarming: and stunting an indicator of chronic malnutrition is declining too slowly. The main objectives of the present article are to focus on 1- the current food supply and nutritional status among the vulnerable young population in African countries 2- Insight on the efforts towards reaching the global goal (2) for ending hunger within the context of the SDS2030. The methodology included urgent short- and medium-term interventions priorities programs implemented by foreign aids and international organizations for the management of severe and moderate malnutrition among African children. Details on the composition of the so-called ready-to-use foods used for treating malnourished children are presented. The outcomes of such programs with all their positives and negatives were put together as lessons to be learned and to close the information gap. The cost for treating one single malnourished child with these ready to use foods is in the range between 50 up to 200 US$. To make Goal 2 a reality by the year 2030, a number of scientific-based sustainable solutions were created and recommended for application. Maximizing the use of local food resources, and minimizing losses by applying the logarithm of linear modeling so that nutritious recipes can be formulated at the lowest cost. Capacity building of junior African academics and increased investments in research focusing on diet quality for optimizing the formulation of recipes for feeding infants and children. Strengthening scientific collaboration and exchange of visits and experiences between scientists from the 54 African countries. The establishment of an African Consortium with experts in the diverse areas of food systems to work together more effectively under the umbrella of the African Union. Keywords: African countries, Staple foods, Intake of animal-sourced foods, Severe and moderately malnourished children, Ready to use foods, SDG 2030, Sustainable nutrient-dense diets, Linear programming, Fermented foods, Intra Africa trade agreements, Political will.

Zero hunger and malnutrition in the African continent is potentially feasible, if nutrition programs are prioritized politically and scientifically

African countries and in particular the Sub Sahara ones contribute to the largest proportion of the global burden of poverty and associated diet-related diseases in all its forms, including micronutrient malnutrition. Malnutrition rates remain alarming: and stunting an indicator of chronic malnutrition is declining too slowly. The main objectives of the present article are to focus on 1- the current food supply and nutritional status among the vulnerable young population in African countries 2- Insight on the efforts towards reaching the global goal (2) for ending hunger within the context of the SDS2030. The methodology included urgent short- and medium-term interventions priorities programs implemented by foreign aids and international organizations for the management of severe and moderate malnutrition among African children. Details on the composition of the so-called ready-to-use foods used for treating malnourished children are presented. The outcomes of such programs with all their positives and negatives were put together as lessons to be learned and to close the information gap. The cost for treating one single malnourished child with these ready to use foods is in the range between 50 up to 200 US$. To make Goal 2 a reality by the year 2030, a number of scientific-based sustainable solutions were created and recommended for application. Maximizing the use of local food resources, and minimizing losses by applying the logarithm of linear modeling so that nutritious recipes can be formulated at the lowest cost. Capacity building of junior African academics and increased investments in research focusing on diet quality for optimizing the formulation of recipes for feeding infants and children. Strengthening scientific collaboration and exchange of visits and experiences between scientists from the 54 African countries. The establishment of an African Consortium with experts in the diverse areas of food systems to work together more effectively under the umbrella of the African Union. Keywords: African countries, Staple foods, Intake of animal-sourced foods, Severe and moderately malnourished children, Ready to use foods, SDG 2030, Sustainable nutrient-dense diets, Linear programming, Fermented foods, Intra Africa trade agreements, Political will.

Adding Enriched Eggs in Ready-to-use foods Improve Recovery Rate in Malnourished Rats

Ready-to-use foods (RUFs) using indigenous sources in developing countries is highly required to treat moderate acute malnutrition (MAM). However, incorporating an animal protein may affect their effectiveness. Thus, two local RUFs were produced without (LF-1) and with eggs (LF-2). The objective of this study was to assess and compare to Plumpy'Sup (PS), the impact of adding enriched eggs in cashew/soy/rice based RUF on the proximate composition, growth and blood biochemical parameters in malnourished Wistar rats by Anagobaka diet. Proximate composition revealed that, with the exception of fiber and ash contents, the two RUFs recorded protein, lipid, carbohydrate and energy values globally comparable to PS. They also met WFP's recommendations for foods to treat MAM. Results of growth parameters show that Anagobaka diet leads to the installation of a moderate emaciation, confirmed by an average weight loss of -17 %. Moreover, recovery diets showed higher weight gain and good palatability (DMI, TPI, FER and PER) in rats fed with PS followed by those fed with LF-2 and LF-1. For the serum biochemical parameters, the rats fed with LF-2 had on the whole a better functioning of blood metabolites (glucose, total proteins, albumin, urea, creatinine, ASAT, ALAT) as well as a better accumulation of blood lipids (total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides) than those of rats fed with PS and LF-1. In conclusion, local RUFs which include enriched eggs present the best nutritional profile to treat MAM in Côte d'Ivoire but to sustain recovery a mineral supplementation will be needed.

The Cost of a Counseling-Based Intervention for Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) in Kenya Compared to Treatment with Ready-to-Use Foods (RUF)

Objectives Supplementary feeding with RUF is currently the recommended treatment for MAM in Kenya, although trials suggest it produces only modest medium-term benefits. An alternative counseling-based approach which identified and addressed the varied underlying causes for MAM would involve increased staff time. In order to model the future cost of providing a targeted, problem solving intervention for MAM instead of supplementary foods, we aimed to estimate the current staff and facility cost of managing acute malnutrition using RUF. Methods We studied 6 health facilities in Nairobi, Kenya in 2019, assessing the amount of staff time spent in treatment of AM and managing RUF supplies, via interview and observation. Information was collected on: time spent per child per visit, number of children with AM seen by nutritionists annually, time spent by staff per year on requisition and management of RUF and in relevant training, staff wage rates and RUF transport costs. Costs were calculated in US$, per child/month, assuming each child was seen once and supplied with 28 RUF sachets. Results Centers saw 7–80 children per clinic and staff spent 5–9 minute seeing each child. The contact cost per child visit was $0.14–0.25 and the dispensing cost $0.02–0.34, giving a mean (range) total cost of $0.24 (0.17 – 0.59). The hourly pay for nutritionists was $1.67. The exact cost of RUF varies, depending on supplier and purchaser, but was estimated to vary from $0.25 to $0.50 per sachet, giving a monthly cost of $7–14. This represents 96–98% of total current MAM treatment costs. Conclusions Very little time is currently spent speaking to mothers of malnourished children. An intervention for MAM could involve up to 8 hours counseling per month per child and still be cheaper to provide than supplementary RUTF. Well-staffed trials of the efficacy of problem-oriented counseling interventions need to be undertaken. Funding Sources Scottish Funding Council (Global Challenges Research Fund).