Efficacy of sorghum peanut blend and corn soy blend plus in the treatment of moderate acute malnutrition in children aged 6–59 months in Karamoja, Uganda: a cluster randomized trial

Figures & data

Table 1 Nutrient composition of the supplementary foods per 100 g

	CSB+	SPB	Recommended levels for children with MAM
			Food based	Complement based
Energy (kcal/100 g)	421	430	380	380
Protein (%)	16.81	14.57	24 g/1,000 kcal	24 g/1,000 kcal
Fat (%)	10.69	18.15	35 g/1,000 kcal	35 g/1,000 kcal
Iron (mg)	16.67	12.08	9	18
Calcium (mg)	891.6	737.5	600	840
Magnesium (mg)	71.83	86.83	200	300
Sodium (mg)	27.50	30.41	550	550
Manganese (mg)	0.73	2.14	1.2	1.2
Zinc (mg)	4.15	1.74	13	20
Phosphorous (mg)	485	380	600	900
Potassium (mg)	626.67	371.67	1,400	1,600

Note: Adapted from Amegovu KA, Ogwok P, Ochola S, Yiga P, Musalima HJ, Mutenyo E. Formulation of sorghum-peanut blend using linear programming for treatment of moderate acute malnutrition in Uganda. J Food Chem and Nutr. 2013;1(2):67–77.

Abbreviations: CSB+, corn soy blend plus; SPB, sorghum peanut blend.

Figure 1 Schematic presentation of enrollment and completion of study by participants.

Abbreviations: CSB+, corn soy blend plus; SPB, sorghum peanut blend.

Table 2 Baseline comparison of the key demographic characteristics, household food security status, and health indicators of the study groups

Characteristics	CSB+ (N=220)		SPB (N=220)		(Chi-square P-value)
	Mean ± SD	n (%)	Mean ± SD	n (%)
Respondent’s relationship to children
Mother		209 (95.0)		210 (95.5)	0.8230
Caregiver		11 (5.0)		10 (4.5)
Education level of respondents
Non-formal education		207 (94.1)		204 (92.7)	0.7590
Primary		12 (5.5)		14 (6.3)
Secondary		0 (0.0)		1 (0.5)
Tertiary		1 (0.5)		1 (0.5)
Age of respondents (years)
15–34	30.36±7.308	164 (74.5)	29.5±8.335	179 (81.4)	0.1790
35–44		44 (20.0)		28 (12.7)
45 and above		12 (5.5)		12 (5.5)
Sex of children
Male		96 (43.6)		122 (55.5)	0.0130
Female		124 (56.4)		98 (44.5)
Mean age of respondents (months)	30±9.1		31 ±8.8
Morbidity based on 2-week recall
Fever		144 (65.5)		118 (55.9)	0.0680
ARI/cough		11 (5.0)		15 (6.8)
Diarrhea		20 (9.1)		5 (2.3)
Disposal of feces
Private/community latrine	2.01 ±0.746	158 (71.8)	1.97±0.807	152 (69.1)	0.5310
Bush/open air		62 (28.2)		68 (30.1)
Treatment of drinking water
Yes	0.57±0.476	123 (55.9)	0.43±0.496	125 (56.8)	0.3900
No		92 (41.8)		95 (43.2)
Children sleeping under ITN
Yes	0.64±0.481	172 (78.2)	0.76±0.426	169 (76.8)	0.7320
No		48 (21.8)		51 (23.2)
Food consumption scores
Poor consumption		46 (20.9)		39 (17.7)	0.5720
Borderline consumption		75 (34.1)		72 (32.7)
Acceptable consumption		99 (45.0)		109 (49.5)

Abbreviations: ARI, acute respiratory infections; ITN, insecticide treated nets; CSB+, corn soy blend plus; SPB, sorghum peanut blend; SD, standard deviation.

Table 3 Baseline anthropometric characteristics of study children

Anthropometric (Mean ± SD)	SPB	CSB+	P-value
Weight (kg)	10.1 ±2.0	9.8± 1.8	0.135
Height (cm)	86.3±9.9	86.3±8.5	0.992
MUAC (cm)	12.1 ±0.3	12.1 ±0.35	0.470
WHZ	−2.09±0.12	−2.35±0.29	<0.001
Weight-for-age, z score	−2.27±0.82	−2.44±0.89	0.027
Height-for-age, z score	−1.57±1.45	−1.51 ±1.48	0.672

Notes: Values are means ± SD, Weight-for-height z score, P>0.05 no significant difference.

Abbreviations: SD, standard deviation; CSB+, corn soy blend plus; SPB, sorghum peanut blend; MUAC, mid-upper arm circumference; WHZ, weight-for-height z score.

Table 4 Impact of the interventions

Outcome	SPB (N=198)		CSB+ (N=194)		Chi-square; t-test P-value
	Mean ± SD	n (%)	Mean ± SD	n (%)
Cured		181 (91.4)		169 (87.1)	0.193
Not cured		17 (8.6)		25 (12.9)
Fever		23 (10.5)		19 (8.6)
Diarrhea		8 (3.6)		8 (3.6)
Vomiting		4 (1.8)		1 (0.45)
ARI		12 (5.5)		10 (4.5)
Mean WHZ at discharge	−0.88±0.339		− 1.149±0.43		<0.001*
Mean HAZ at discharge	−1.6± 1.45		−1.6± 1.48		0.969

Notes: Values are means ± SD or n (%)

* significant difference.

Abbreviations: WHZ, weight-for-height z score; HAZ, height-for-age z score; SD, standard deviation; CSB+, corn soy blend plus; SPB, sorghum peanut blend; ARI, acute respiratory infections.

Figure 2 A comparison of survival experiences of children on the two food supplements.

Abbreviations: CSB+, corn soy blend plus; SPB, sorghum peanut blend.

Table 5 Predictors of recovery time

AFT-model
Number of subjects =427				LR χ^2 (4) =263.64
Log likelihood =84.964				Prob >χ^2=0.000
Characteristic	Time ratio	Coef	SE	z	P-value>z
Age at admission	0.985	−0.015	0.006	−2.300	0.021
Sex
Female	1.000	0.000
Male	0.887	−0.120	0.113	−1.060	0.287
Food item (treatment)
SPB	1.000	0.000
CSB+	12.572	2.531	0.185	13.680	0.000
Baseline weight-for-height	0.851	−0.162	0.283	−0.570	0.568
Constant		−12.659	0.964	−13.140	0.000

Abbreviations: AFT, analysis and failure time; LR, log rank; Prob, probability; Coef, coefficient; SE, standard error; SPB, sorghum peanut blend; CSB+, corn soy blend plus.