Effectiveness, Tolerability and Safety of Three Formulations in Underfives With Moderate Acute Malnutrition

This is a randomized clinical trial aimed at evaluating the effectiveness, tolerability and safety of standardized milk-based formulation, standardized non-milk based formulation and a hospital-based formulation in the management of children aged 6 - 59 months with moderate acute malnutrition. Eligible children will be randomized into one of the three intervention arms and given supplementary doses of the formulations at 50% of their daily caloric requirement for a period of four months based on the group of their assignment. The remainder will be obtained from their regular family diets. The clinical features, anthropometric measurements and laboratory parameters of the children will be assessed at baseline. The children will be followed up on two weekly basis for a period of four months during which further clinical assessment, anthropometric measurements and laboratory evaluations will be performed. The outcome measures will be determined based on "per protocol analysis".