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Published Studies
This page includes publications from individual clinical trials testing food aid products, and reports and evaluations from programs using food aid products. These resources are tagged according to country, nutritional problem studied, intervention used, study type, year, and author. If relevant to more than one category, the document appears in both categories. New resources are added regularly according to search criteria and standards developed by REFINE.
Do you know of a recently published study or trial that isn’t included here? Email us at REFINEnutrition@gmail.com!
Thapa, B. R., Goyal, P., Menon, J., Sharma, A..
"Acceptability and efficacy of locally produced ready-to-use therapeutic food nutreal in the management of severe acute malnutrition in comparison with defined food: A randomized control trial
."
Food and Nutrition Bulletin 38 , no. 1 (2017)
: 18-26
Study Interventions
- Lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS)
- Locally produced
Research Gaps
- Acceptability
- Effectiveness
- Innovation
Nutritional Problems being Studied
- SAM
Martorell, R..
"Improved nutrition in the first 1000 days and adult human capital and health
."
American Journal of Human Biology 29 , no. 2 (2017)
Study Interventions
- Locally produced
Research Gaps
- Effectiveness
Nutritional Problems being Studied
- Stunted
Zhang, Y., Wu, Q., Wang, W., Velthoven, M. H., Chang, H., Han, H., Xing, M., Chen, L., Scherpbier, R. W..
"Effectiveness of complementary food supplements and dietary counselling on anaemia and stunting in children aged 6–23 months in poor areas of Qinghai Province, China: a controlled interventional study
."
BMJ Open 6 , no. 10 (2016)
Study Interventions
- Locally produced
Research Gaps
- Effectiveness
Nutritional Problems being Studied
- Stunted
Rytter, M. J., Babirekere-Iriso, E., Namusoke, H., Christensen, V. B., Michaelsen, K. F., Ritz, C., Mortensen, C. G., Mupere, E., Friis, H..
"Risk factors for death in children during inpatient treatment of severe acute malnutrition: a prospective cohort study
."
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 105 , no. 2 (2017)
: 494-502
Study Interventions
- Other
Research Gaps
- Effectiveness
Nutritional Problems being Studied
- SAM
Ashorn, P., Poelman, B., Dewey, K. G., Maleta, K., Klein, N., Rogerson, S., Meshnick, S. R., The LNS-RTI Study Team.
"The impact of dietary supplementation with lipid-based nutrient supplements on maternal health and pregnancy outcomes in rural Malawi
."
(2017)
Study Interventions
- Lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS)
Research Gaps
- Effectiveness
Nutritional Problems being Studied
- Stunted
- Pregnant & Lactating Women
Daly, Z., Northrup-Lyons, M., Reid, R., Cheung, M., Hutchinson, D..
"Effectiveness study for the development of a home fortification programme for young children in Zambia - endline report
."
(2017)
Study Interventions
- Behavior change communication (BCC)
- Micronutrient powders (MNP)
Research Gaps
- Effectiveness
Nutritional Problems being Studied
- Stunted
Mehta, R., Platt, A. C., Sun, X., Desai, M., Clements, D., Turner, E. L..
"Efficacy of iron-supplement bars to reduce anemia in urban Indian women: a cluster-randomized controlled trial
."
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2017)
Study Interventions
- Locally produced
Research Gaps
- Effectiveness
Nutritional Problems being Studied
- Stunted
Manary, M., Callaghan, M., Wegner, D., Papathakis, P..
"Randomized controlled trial of the impact of treating moderately malnourished women in pregnancy
."
(2017)
Study Interventions
- Fortified blended foods (FBF)
- Lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS)
Research Gaps
- Effectiveness
Nutritional Problems being Studied
- Stunted
- Pregnant & Lactating Women
- MAM
Iannotti, L., Dulience, S. J., Joseph, S., Cooley, C., Tufte, T., Cox, K., Eaton, J., Delnatus, J. R., Wolff, P. B..
"Fortified snack reduced anemia in rural school-aged children of Haiti: a cluster-randomized, controlled trial
."
Plos One 11 , no. 12 (2016)
Study Interventions
- Lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS)
Research Gaps
- Effectiveness
Nutritional Problems being Studied
- Stunted
Isanka, S., Kodish, S. R., Berthe, F., Alley, I., Nackers, F., Hanson, K. E., Grais, R. F..
"Outpatient treatment of severe acute malnutrition: response to treatment with a reduced schedule of therapeutic food distribution
."
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2017)
Study Interventions
- Lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS)
Research Gaps
- Efficacy
- Innovation
Nutritional Problems being Studied
- SAM
Cardoso, M. A., Augusto, R. A., Bortolini, G. A., Oliveira, C. S. M., Tietzman, D. C., Sequeira, L. A. S., Hadler, M C., Peixoto, M. R. G. , Muniz, P. T., Vitolo, M. R., Lira, P. I. C., Jamie, P. C., ENFAC Working Group.
"Effect of providing multiple micronutrients in powder through primary healthcare on anemia in young Brazilian children: a multicentre pragmatic controlled trial
."
PLoS One 11 , no. 5 (2016)
: e0156194
Study Interventions
- Micronutrient powders (MNP)
Research Gaps
- Effectiveness
- Innovation
Nutritional Problems being Studied
- Stunted
Suchdev, P. S., Addo, O. Y., Martorell, R., Grant, F. K. E., Ruth, L. J., Patel, M. K., Juliao, P. C., Quick, R., Flores-Ayala, R..
"Effects of community-based sales of micronutrient powders on morbidity episodes in preschool children in Western Kenya
."
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 103 , no. 3 (2016)
: 934-941
Study Interventions
- Micronutrient powders (MNP)
Research Gaps
- Effectiveness
- Innovation
Nutritional Problems being Studied
- Stunted
Sulistiyono, P., Herawati, D. M. D., Arya, I. F. D..
"Rebon shrimp powder addition influence to nutritional values, organoleptic properties and acceptance of supplementary food by children aged 4-5 years old
."
Kesmas: National Public Health Journal 11 , no. 4 (2017)
: 168-172
Study Interventions
- Animal-source protein
- Locally produced
Research Gaps
- Acceptability
- Innovation
Nutritional Problems being Studied
- Stunted
Bahwere, P., Akomo, P., Mwale, M., Murakami, H., Banda, C., Kathumba, S., Banda, C., Jere, S., Sadler, K., Collins, S..
"Soya, maize, and sorghum-based ready-to-use therapeutic food with amino acid is as efficacious as the standard milk and peanut paste-based formulation for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition in children: A noninferiority individually randomized controlled efficacy clinical trial in Malawi.
."
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2017)
Study Interventions
- Animal-source protein
- Lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS)
- Plant-source protein
Research Gaps
- Composition
- Effectiveness
- Innovation
Nutritional Problems being Studied
- SAM
Delimont, N. M., Alavi, S., Lindshield, B..
"New formulations for fortified-blended foods: the MFFAPP Tanzania efficacy trial
."
The FASEB Journal 31 , no. 1 (2017)
: Supplement 786.15
Study Interventions
- Fortified blended foods (FBF)
- Locally produced
Research Gaps
- Composition
- Effectiveness
- Innovation
Nutritional Problems being Studied
- Stunted
Kampstra, N. A., Van Hoan, N., Koenders, D. J. P. C., Schoop, R., Broersen, C. B., Mouquet-Rivier, C., Traore, T., Bruins, M. J., de Pee, S..
"Energy and nutrient intake increased by 47–67% when amylase was added to fortified blended foods—a study among 12- to 35-month-old Burkinabe children
."
Maternal & Child Nutrition (2017)
Study Interventions
- Fortified blended foods (FBF)
Research Gaps
- Acceptability
- Composition
Nutritional Problems being Studied
- Stunted
- GAM
Unger, S. A., Drammeh, S., Hasan, J., Ceesay, K., Sinjanka, E., Beyai, S., Sonko, B., Dondeh, B. L., Filford, A. J., Moore, S. E., Prentice, A. M..
"Impact of fortified versus unfortified lipid-based supplements on morbidity and nutritional status: A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial in ill Gambian children
."
PLoS Medicine 14 , no. 8 (2017)
: e1002377
Study Interventions
- Lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS)
Research Gaps
- Composition
- Effectiveness
Nutritional Problems being Studied
- Stunted
Lanyero, B., Namusoke, H., Nabukeera-Barungi, N., Grenov, B., Mupere, E., Michaelsen, K. F., Molgaard, C., Christensen, V. B., Friis, H., Briend, A..
"Transition from F-75 to ready-to-use therapeutic food in children with severe acute malnutrition, an observational study in Uganda
."
Nutrition Journal 16 , no. 1 (2017)
Study Interventions
- Lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS)
Research Gaps
- Acceptability
Nutritional Problems being Studied
- SAM
Adu-Afarwuah, S., Lartey, A., Okronipa, H., Ashorn, P., Zeilani, M., Oaks, B. M., Baldiviez, L. M., Vosti, S., Dewey, K. G..
"Impact of small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplement on hemoglobin, iron status and biomarkers of inflammation in pregnant Ghanaian women
."
Maternal & Child Nutrition 12 , no. 2 (2017)
Study Interventions
- Lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS)
Research Gaps
- Composition
- Effectiveness
Nutritional Problems being Studied
- Pregnant & Lactating Women
Stevens, B., Watt, K., Brimblecombe, J., Clough, A., Judd, J..
"Development of a locally produced, balanced protein-energy food-based supplement and its acceptance by undernourished pregnant women in Northern Bangladesh
."
Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition (2016)
Study Interventions
- Lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS)
- Locally produced
Research Gaps
- Acceptability
- Innovation
Nutritional Problems being Studied
- Pregnant & Lactating Women
Adams, A. M., Ahmed, R., Mahbub Latif, A. H. M., Rasheed, S., Das, S. K., Hasib, E., Farzana, F. D., Ferdous, F., Ahmed, S., Faruque, A. S. G..
"Impact of fortified biscuits on micronutrient deficiencies among primary school children in Bangladesh
."
PLoS One (2017)
Study Interventions
- Other
Research Gaps
- Acceptability
- Effectiveness
Nutritional Problems being Studied
- Stunted
- GAM
Akparibo, R., Harris, J., Blank, L., Campbell, M. J., Holdsworth, M..
"Severe acute malnutrition in children aged under 5 years can be successfully managed in a non-emergency routine community healthcare setting in Ghana
."
Maternal & Child Nutrition 13 , no. 4 (2017)
Study Interventions
- Lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS)
Research Gaps
- Effectiveness
Nutritional Problems being Studied
- SAM
Callaghan-Gillespie, M., Schaffner, A. A., Garcia, P., Fry, J., Eckert, R. , Malek, S., Trehan, I., Thakwalakwa, C., Maleta, K. M., Manary, M. J., Papathakis, P. C..
"Trial of ready-to-use supplemental food and corn-soy blend in pregnant Malawian women with moderate malnutrition: a randomized controlled clinical trial
."
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 106 , no. 4 (2017)
: 1062-1069
Study Interventions
- Fortified blended foods (FBF)
- Lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS)
Research Gaps
- Composition
- Effectiveness
Nutritional Problems being Studied
- Pregnant & Lactating Women
- MAM
Schlossman, N., Brown, C., Batra, P., Braima de Sa, A., Balan, I., Balan, A., Gamache, M. G., Wood, L., Pruzensky, W., Saltzman, E., Roberts, S. B., Bale, C..
"A randomized controlled trial of two ready-to-use supplementary foods demonstrates benefit of the higher dairy supplement for reduced wasting in mothers, and differential impact in infants and children associated with maternal supplement response
."
Food and Nutrition Bulletin 38 , no. 3 (2017)
: 275-290
Study Interventions
- Lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS)
Research Gaps
- Composition
- Effectiveness
Nutritional Problems being Studied
- Pregnant & Lactating Women
- GAM
Pulungan, A. B., Mirasanti, D. A..
"Effect of community-based food supplementation on improving growth of underweight children under five years of age in West Nusa Tenggara
."
Paediatrica Indonesiana 57 , no. 5 (2017)
: 246-251
Study Interventions
- Other
Research Gaps
- Effectiveness
Nutritional Problems being Studied
- Stunted
- GAM