Efficacy of a Nutritional Intervention in Children with Moderate Acute Malnutrition: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Sri Lanka During the Economic Crisis in 2023.

This article focuses on evaluating the efficacy of an additional nutritional intervention—comprising biweekly food transfers and nutrition education—on growth parameters, dietary diversity, and hemoglobin levels in Sri Lankan children aged 6 to 59 months with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) during the 2023 economic crisis. In a randomized controlled trial involving 510 children, the intervention group showed significantly greater improvement in weight-for-height Z-scores and dietary diversity compared to the control group receiving standard care, though no significant differences were observed in stunting, underweight, or hemoglobin levels. The study underscores the importance of targeted, nutrient-adequate food security interventions in resource-poor settings during crises to support effective nutritional rehabilitation and prevent deterioration to severe malnutrition.