Clinical Profiling of a Chicken Based Formula in an Indian Children’s Hospital

Aims: To compare nutritional status of chronic ill children before and after using chicken-based formula (CBF).

Design: A retrospective, case note based, observational study of the use of CBF in various clinical indications were noted and results critically analysed.

Study Design: In this study, out patients aged 1 to 36 months who were prescribed CBF from 2018-2020 were included. The indications for using the formula and the outcomes were noted. All subjects, consumed the prescribed formula for a minimum of six months. The pre and post - therapy nutritional status were assessed. The collected data was analysed using SPSS Version 20.

Methodology: Children between the ages 1 to 36 months who presented with chronic diarrhoea in whom CBF was prescribed either as primary source of nutrition or an nutritional adjunct were included in the study. Children who were allergic to the CBF or any of its ingredients were excluded from the study.

Results: 34 children were prescribed CBF for various indications including Cow’s milk protein allergy (n=18, 52%), underweight (n=8, 23.5%), Chronic Diarrhoea (n=8, 23.5%). The age range was 0-6 months n=13 (38.2%), 6-12 months n=14 (41.2%) and 12-36 months=7 (20.6%).The nutritional assessment prior to commencing feeds showed 52.9% (n=18) were underweight, 44.1% (n=15) were well nourished and 2.9% (n=1) was overweight. Post feeding nutritional status showed-20.58% (n= 7) remained underweight, 76.4% (n=26) were well nourished and 2.9 % (n= 1) overweight. Weight gain was significant in selected subjects (<.001).Pearson correlation indicates that there was significant positive correlation between CBF and weight gain.

Conclusions: Growth parameters of infants fed with CBF matches with infants who are not fed on CBF. CBF can be used as an alternative in the absence of equivalent therapeutic feeds. It may be used for indications such as secondary lactose intolerance, celiac disease, malnutrition and alternative to hypo-allergenic formula (as a cheaper and cost effective formula) and as an adjuvant in malnutrition.