Short-Term Acceptability of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods in Two Provinces of Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Autor:	Aiello I; Faculty of Medicine, Aix-Marseille University, AP-HM, 13385 Marseille, France.; Food, Nutrition, Health, UMR QualiSud, French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), 34394 Montpellier, France.; Health and Nutrition Section, UNICEF, Vientiane, Laos., Kounnavong S; Lao Tropical and Public Health Institute, Ban Kaognot, Sisattanack District, Vientiane, Laos., Vinathan H; Health and Nutrition Section, UNICEF, Vientiane, Laos., Philavong K; Centre of Nutrition (CoN), Ministry of Health (MoH), Ban Xiengda, Vientiane, Laos., Luangphaxay C; Lao Tropical and Public Health Institute, Ban Kaognot, Sisattanack District, Vientiane, Laos., Soukhavong S; Faculty of Public Health, University of Health Sciences, Vientiane, Laos., Blomberg J; Health and Nutrition Section, UNICEF, Vientiane, Laos., Wieringa FT; Food, Nutrition, Health, UMR QualiSud, French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), 34394 Montpellier, France.; UMR QualiSud, CIRAD, University of Montpellier, SupAgro, IRD, University of Avignon, University of Reunion, 34394 Montpellier, France.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Nutrients [Nutrients] 2023 Sep 03; Vol. 15 (17). Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Sep 03.
DOI:	10.3390/nu15173847
Abstrakt:	Background: In Lao PDR, acute malnutrition remains a public health problem, with around 9% of children under 5 being affected. Outpatient treatment of severe acute malnutrition requires ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs), but concerns have been raised about the acceptability of globally available products. Culturally acceptable RUTFs could be locally developed, but data are lacking on RUTF preferences in Lao PDR. Methods: In a crossover-designed study, four different RUTFs were tested for short-term acceptability and organoleptic qualities (two globally available: peanut-based, which is the current standard, and wheat-milk-based RUTFs; two regionally produced: a mung-bean-based and a fish-rice-based RUTF). Organoleptic properties were evaluated by 83 caretaker-child pair participants through a taste test and a 30 min consumption test. Short-term acceptability was assessed through a 3-day intake test. The study sites were in Phongsaly (North Laos) and Attapeu (South Laos). Focus group discussions were conducted at the beginning and the end of the study. Results: The mung bean RUTF was the favorite among caretakers, with an acceptability percentage of 96.2%, and scored better ( p -value < 0.05) for all organoleptic variables than the other three RUTFs. Overall, 3 days after receiving take-home rations, the mean percentage of consumption was above 80% for all the RUTFs, with the mung bean product being the most consumed. Conclusions: The regionally produced mung bean RUTF was the most accepted, whereas the other regionally produced fish-based RUTF was the least accepted, showing the complexity of finding culturally acceptable solutions to fight malnutrition. For Lao PDR, a mung-bean-based RUTF seems the way forward, even if the current standard peanut-based RUTF appeared to be acceptable, albeit not the most preferred.
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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