Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy in Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Bartels RH, Bourdon C, Potani I
Published in The Journal of Pediatrics
Methodology
Randomised controlled trial of 28 days of PERT plus standard care versus standard care in 90 Malawian children aged 6-60 months with complicated severe acute malnutrition
Key Findings
No difference in weight gain between PERT and control despite exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in 83.1% of patients at admission
Conclusions
Adding enzymes did not improve weight gain, showing that supplemental enzymes do not automatically translate into nutritional benefit
Limitations
Small sample; not powered for mortality
Supplements Studied
Children treated with PERT for 28 days did not gain more weight than controls (13.7 +/- 9.0% in controls vs 15.3 +/- 11.3% in PERT; P = .56).
Outcomes Measured
Children treated with PERT for 28 days did not gain more weight than controls (13.7 +/- 9.0% in controls vs 15.3 +/- 11.3% in PERT; P = .56).
Study Details
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