The effectiveness of the use of "ready-to-use" therapeutic food (RUTF) in treating malnourished children in developing countries and the way forward

WHO and UNICEF recommend the use of “ready-to-use therapeutic food” (RUTF) in the treatment of severely acute malnourished (SAM) children with no complicated medical background. This research paper aims to review the evidence on the use of RUTF in the treatment of SAM children, explore the potential issues with the use of RUTF, and provide suggestions for future research. A total of 7 studies were included for the review on the effectiveness of RUTF treatment. Evidences showed a general improvement in the health outcomes of SAM children, yet failed to yield high-quality evidences to prove its benefits. Potential problems with the reliance on RUTF were identified, further research on the use of RUTF are required.published_or_final_versionPublic HealthMasterMaster of Public Healt