High-Oleic Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food Maintains Docosahexaenoic Acid Status in Severe Malnutrition.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) is the preferred treatment for uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition. It contains large amounts of linoleic acid and little α-linolenic acid, which may reduce the availability of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) to the recovering child. A novel high-oleic RUTF (HO-RUTF) was developed with less linoleic acid to determine its effect on DHA and EPA status.

METHODS:

We conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical effectiveness trial treating rural Malawian children with severe acute malnutrition. Children were treated with either HO-RUTF or standard RUTF. Plasma phospholipid fatty acid status was measured on enrollment and after 4 weeks and compared between the 2 intervention groups.

RESULTS:

Among the 141 children enrolled, 48 of 71 receiving HO-RUTF and 50 of 70 receiving RUTF recovered. Plasma phospholipid samples were analyzed from 43 children consuming HO-RUTF and 35 children consuming RUTF. The change in DHA content during the first 4 weeks was +4% and -25% in the HO-RUTF and RUTF groups, respectively (P = 0.04). For EPA, the change in content was 63% and -24% in the HO-RUTF and RUTF groups, respectively (P < 0.001). For arachidonic acid, the change in content was -3% and 13% in the HO-RUTF and RUTF groups, respectively (P < 0.009).

CONCLUSIONS:

The changes in DHA and EPA seen in the children treated with HO-RUTF warrant further investigation because they suggest that HO-RUTF support improved polyunsaturated fatty acid status, necessary for neural development and recovery.

• Authors: Ji-Cheng Hsieh, Lei Liu, Mamane Zeilani, Scott Ickes, Indi Trehan, Ken Maleta, Christina Craig, Chrissie Thakwalakwa, Lauren Singh, J Thomas Brenna, Mark J Manary
• Journal: Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition (J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr) Vol. 61 Issue 1 Pg. 138-43 (Jul 2015) ISSN: 1536-4801 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25633498 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Phospholipids
• alpha-Linolenic Acid
• Docosahexaenoic Acids
• Arachidonic Acid
• Oleic Acid
• Linoleic Acid
• Eicosapentaenoic Acid

Topics

• Arachidonic Acid (blood)
• Child, Preschool
• Docosahexaenoic Acids (blood)
• Double-Blind Method
• Eicosapentaenoic Acid (blood)
• Fast Foods
• Female
• Food, Formulated
• Humans
• Infant
• Linoleic Acid (administration & dosage, blood)
• Male
• Nutritional Status
• Oleic Acid (administration & dosage, blood, therapeutic use)
• Phospholipids (blood)
• Prospective Studies
• Protein-Energy Malnutrition (diet therapy)
• Weight Gain
• alpha-Linolenic Acid (blood)