Supplementary Food on Prevention of Moderate Malnutrition in Children

The Effect of Supplementary Food Cookies on Prevention of Moderate Malnutrition in Preschool Children in Rural Mexico

The study will evaluate the impact of a supplementary food (cookies) in preventing the risk of developing moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) in preschool mildly malnourished children.

Children will be divided in two groups; one will received the cookie plus 12 educative sessions and the other just the educative program. The study will last 12 months

Inclusion Criteria:

• (2-5 years old), who are from low socioeconomic classes (E and D classes)
• reside in rural areas, and with WHZ- between > -3 and ≤ -2, and
• informed consent given by the subject's mother or caregiver

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe acute malnutrition (HAZ, WAZ and WHZ-scores ≤-3) based on the 2006 World Health Organization (WHO) reference values (24)
• Vitamin A deficiency (softening, ulceration, cloudiness of the cornea, and dryness of the conjunctivitis), and iodine deficiency (visible goiter)
• (3 or more episodes of loose/liquid stools/per day and lasted more than 24-hours), fever (high temperature that lasted more than 24 hours as reported by the mother/caregiver), and respiratory infections (coughing and/or runny nose that last more than 24 hours).
• Current consumption of other supplementary foods.
• Peanut or other ingredient allergy based on prior report. If some direct family member is allergic to peanuts, child would not be enrolled.