title: Balancing omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF).
abstract: Ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs) are a key component of a life-saving treatment for young children who present with uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition in resource limited settings. Increasing recognition of the role of balanced dietary omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in neurocognitive and immune development led two independent groups to evaluate RUTFs. Jones et al. (BMC Med 13:93, 2015), in a study in BMC Medicine, and Hsieh et al. (J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2015), in a study in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, reformulated RUTFs with altered PUFA content and looked at the effects on circulating omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) status as a measure of overall omega-3 status. Supplemental oral administration of omega-3 DHA or reduction of RUTF omega-6 linoleic acid using high oleic peanuts improved DHA status, whereas increasing omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid in RUTF did not. The results of these two small studies are consistent with well-established effects in animal studies and highlight the need for basic and operational research to improve fat composition in support of omega-3-specific development in young children as RUTF use expands.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutritional Sciences, Savage Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA. jtb4@cornell.edu.
authors.forename: J Thomas
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Brenna
authors.affiliation: Valid Nutrition, Cuibín Farm, Derry Duff, Bantry Co., Cork, Republic of Ireland. peterakomo@validnutrition.org.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Akomo
authors.affiliation: Valid International, 35 Leopold Street, Oxford, OX4 1TW, UK. paluku@validinternational.org.
authors.forename: Paluku
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bahwere
authors.affiliation: KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, 230-80108, Kenya. jberkley@kemri-wellcome.org.|Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Centre for Tropical Medicine & Global Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, UK. jberkley@kemri-wellcome.org.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Berkley
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Institute of Developmental Sciences Building (MP887), Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK. p.c.calder@soton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Philip C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Calder
authors.affiliation: KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, 230-80108, Kenya. kelsey.jones@imperial.ac.uk.|Centre for Global Health Research and Section of Paediatrics, Imperial College, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK. kelsey.jones@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kelsey D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutritional Sciences, Savage Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA. ll434@cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid, Campus Box 8116, St. Louis, MO, USA. manary@kids.wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manary
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid, Campus Box 8116, St. Louis, MO, USA. indi@alum.berkeley.edu.|University of Malawi College of Medicine, P/Bag 360 Chichiri, Blantyre, 3, Malawi. indi@alum.berkeley.edu.
authors.forename: Indi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Trehan
authors.affiliation: Department for International Health, University of Tampere School of Medicine, FIN-33014, Tampere, Finland. andre.briend@gmail.com.|Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 30, DK-1958, Frederiksberg, Denmark. andre.briend@gmail.com.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Briend
mesh_terms: D019587:Dietary Supplements; D057140:Fast Foods; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000178:diet therapy*
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils