Effects of prebiotics on microbial diversity and abundance in young children with acute malnutrition: study protocol for a multi-centered, double-blinded randomized controlled trial.

Background: The anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits of prebiotics may present an affordable and cost-effective strategy for not only the prevention but also treatment of malnutrition. Therefore, the present trial has been designed with the aim to evaluate the role of prebiotics on the gut microbiome of severe acute malnourished (SAM) children.

Methods: The study is designed as a prospective, double-blinded, triple-armed, multi-centered randomized controlled trial, with 6-59 months old uncomplicated SAM children recruited to the experimental group receiving ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) plus prebiotics and the active comparator group receiving RUTF plus starch for 2 months duration (8 weeks).

Relationship of stunting with water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices among children under the age of five: a cross-sectional study in Southern Punjab, Pakistan.

Background: Reasons for undernutrition are food insufficiency, impaired child care, limited access to healthcare, and maternal lack of health literacy. In addition, there are several environmental factors, such as drinking water quality, poor sanitation, and hygienic practices that can lead to poor nutritional status in children. The present study aimed to compare household-associated risk factors, including water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices of mothers, with children's stunting under the age of five.

Double-Blind Parallel Treatment Randomized Controlled Trial of Prebiotics' Efficacy for Children Experiencing Severe Acute Malnutrition in Southern Punjab, Pakistan.

The prevalence of malnutrition among children under five is alarmingly high in Pakistan. However, there are ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF) available which may be used to treat children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM). This study aims to assess the efficacy of prebiotics as a synergistic additive to RUTF to enhance blood parameters and anthropometric measurements in children with uncomplicated SAM living in Southern Punjab, Pakistan.