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CompletedNCT06530485Updated Aug 25, 2026

Post Discharge Trial to Enhance Immunity in Severely Malnourished Children

An interventional study of Microbiota-directed food and Khichuri in Child Malnutrition, sponsored by International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh. Completed at 1 site in Bangladesh. Open to participants aged 6 Months to 36 Months. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-25.

Sponsored by International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh · Not applicable, Interventional, and Supportive care

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
154
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
6 Months to 36 Months
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The goal of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of microbiota-directed food in comparison to zinc with micronutrient powder and Khichuri on changes in circulating immune cells (monocytes, T cells, B cells, and NK cells) in malnourished children after recovery from acute infection.

The study aims to answer the research question:

Does microbiota-directed food (MDF) compared to zinc with micronutrient powder (MNP) and Khichuri therapy enhance immunity in children with severe acute malnutrition? The researcher will compare the effectiveness of microbiota-directed food (MDF) versus zinc with micronutrient powder (MNP) and Khichuri therapy to see if MDF enhances immunity in severely malnourished children.

Severely malnourished children will:

  • Receive microbiota-directed food (MDF) or zinc with micronutrient powder (MNP) and Khichuri every day for 12 weeks.
  • Phenotyping of circulating immune cells (NK cells, T cells, B cells) will be conducted using flow cytometry and fluorescence-activated cell sorting techniques.
02

Conditions studied

  • Child Malnutrition

Keywords

  • Immunity
  • Malnutrition
  • Microbiota-directed food (MDF)
  • Zinc
  • NK cells
  • Gut microbiota
03

In context

Child Nutrition Disorders

164 studies on the registry are indexed under Child Nutrition Disorders; 34 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 154 is below the median of 428 across 130 interventional studies indexed under Child Nutrition Disorders.

Browse Child Nutrition Disorders studies →

Lead sponsor

International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh is the lead sponsor of 197 studies on the registry; 28 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
6 Months to 36 Months
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Children aged 6 months to 36 months, and
  • Severe acute malnutrition as evident by weight-for-length z-score (WLZ) \< -3 and or mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) \< 11.5 cm, and or edema of both feet, and
  • Completed the acute phase management for SAM and stayed at NRU for 7±4 days, with no medical complications, e.g. lethargic/unconscious, convulsions, unable to drink, persistent vomiting, respiratory distress.
  • Residing within the Dhaka district.
  • Parents/guardians provided written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • WLZ ≥ -3 or MUAC ≥11.5 cm.
  • Presence of lethargy/unconsciousness, convulsions, unable to drink, persistent vomiting, respiratory distress.
  • Participants who receive multiple courses of antibiotic (>2 courses during acute phase) treatment for a prolonged period (>14 days).
  • Persistent diarrhea (≥14 days).
  • Chronic illness or disability affecting food intake, e.g. TB, HIV, congenital defects, cerebral palsy
  • Treated for SAM in the previous 3 months.
  • Known case of soy, peanut, or milk protein allergy.
  • Any sibling of the enrolled child.
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
154 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Microbiota-directed food

    Children randomized to this group will receive Microbiota-directed food (MDF) daily for 12 weeks. MDF can modulate the gut microbiota and enhance host immunity, growth, and development in malnourished children.

    Dietary Supplement: Microbiota-directed food

  • Active comparator
    Khichuri

    Children randomized to this group will receive zinc with Micronutrient powder (MNP) and Khichuri daily for 12 weeks.

    Dietary Supplement: Khichuri

Interventions

  • Dietary supplementMicrobiota-directed food

    MDF can modulate the gut microbiota and enhance host immunity, growth, and development in malnourished children. Each sachet of MDF (100 gm) provides approximately 500 kcal.

    Also known as: MDF

  • Dietary supplementKhichuri

    Khichuri is a home-based nutritious food with high energy and protein. This arm also contains zinc (10 gm/day), micronutrient powder, and an egg daily.

    Also known as: Locally available food

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. NK cells

    Differences in the proportion and activity of circulating NK cells between the groups 12 weeks after the intervention, measured by flow cytometry/fluorescence-assisted cell sorter (FACS).

    Time frame: 12 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Circulating immune cells

    Differences in the proportion of circulating immune cells (NK cells, T cells, B cells) before and after the interventions

    Time frame: 12 weeks

  2. Rate of weight gain

    Rate of weight gain between the intervention groups over the 12-weeek intervention period.

    Time frame: 12 weeks

  3. Cytokines and chemokines

    Differences in the levels of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in circulation, which can provide insights into the functional status of immune cells

    Time frame: 12 weeks

  4. Micro biocidal capacity

    Differences in the micro biocidal capacity (oxidative burst) of neutrophils and monocytes.

    Time frame: 12 weeks

  5. Diarrhea and pneumonia

    Incidence of acute diarrhea and pneumonia during the study period.

    Time frame: 12 weeks

  6. Gut microbiota

    Composition and evolution of gut microbiota over the 12-weeek intervention period.

    Time frame: 12 weeks

  7. Case fatality rate

    Case fatality rate within 12 weeks post discharge.

    Time frame: 12 weeks

  8. Anthropometric recovery

    Anthropometric recovery from SAM: anthropometric recovery will be defined as reaching a WLZ of \>-2 (for those admitted with WLZ \<-2) and or MUAC \>12.5 (for those admitted with MUAC \<12.5 cm).

    Time frame: 12 weeks

07

Study locations

1 site
  • International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh
    Dhaka, Dhaka Division 1212, Bangladesh
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 25, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06530485
Lead sponsor
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jul 31, 2024
Start date
Sep 1, 2024
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2025
Completion
Dec 31, 2025
Last update
Aug 25, 2026

Study contacts

Farzana Afroze, MBBS, FCPS
principal investigator · International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Sep 2024. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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