Acceptability of a Microbiome-directed Food in Young Children With Acute Malnutrition

A randomized controlled trial will be conducted to assess the effectiveness of a microbiome-directed food (MDF) for treatment of uncomplicated acute malnutrition among children 6 to <24 months of age in Niger. MDF will be compared to standard ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF) for children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and to standard ready-to-use supplementary foods (RUSF) for children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM). The acceptability and utilization of MDF will be assessed in this preliminary acceptability study before the proposed effectiveness trial. The results of this preliminary acceptability study will be used to inform expectations of MDF use during the subsequent randomized effectiveness trial.

Children aged 6 to < 24 months will be eligible for enrollment in the acceptability trial on the day of their admission for treatment of uncomplicated severe or moderate acute malnutrition. Participants will be purposively selected to ensure balance by child age (6-11 vs 12 to < 24 months) and sex. Recruitment will occur continuously (e.g. without sampling on consecutive working days) among all eligible children at 2 study health centers until the target sample size is achieved.

After providing written informed consent, children will be randomized to 1 of 2 feeding orders (MDF vs RUTF/RUSF). Children will be randomized and provided with one product for the first two weeks then crossover to consume the second product for a second two weeks.

At each follow up visit, study nurses will ask caregivers rate their child's liking of the supplement on a 5-point Likert scale, as well as record child weight and any morbidity or adverse event since last visit before dispensing the next supply of food. Caregivers will also be asked to describe at-home utilization, including the food consumed by the child, current eating patterns in relation to other household foods (e.g. use at mealtimes, as a complete replacement, replacement of specific food items), sharing or selling practices in the home and willingness to use the supplement in the future.

Inclusion criteria

• Are eligible for outpatient treatment of severe or moderate acute malnutrition according to the national protocol
• Are between 6 and <24 months of age
• Reside in the study catchment area and will remain there for at least 1 month
• Have no known allergy or contraindication to study product or standard treatment ingredients