Researchers studied 260 children with cancer who weren’t eating enough to stay healthy. Half of the children received regular nutrition help, while the other half got special high-nutrition food called RUTF (Ready to Use Therapeutic Food) along with regular nutrition help. After 6 weeks, the children who received the special food and gained weight felt better overall and had fewer health problems. This study shows that when undernourished children with cancer get proper nutrition and start gaining weight, their quality of life improves in many ways—from having more energy to feeling less sick.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether giving special high-nutrition food to undernourished children with cancer helps them feel better and have fewer health problems
  • Who participated: 260 children with cancer who weren’t getting enough nutrition. They were split into two equal groups—one got regular nutrition help, the other got regular help plus special therapeutic food
  • Key finding: Children who received the special food and gained weight showed better overall health and fewer problems after 6 weeks. The improvement was especially clear in children who were very malnourished at the start
  • What it means for you: If a child with cancer isn’t eating enough, giving them special nutrition support—especially food designed to help them gain weight—may help them feel better, have more energy, and experience fewer side effects. However, this applies specifically to children with cancer and should be done under medical supervision

The Research Details

This was a randomized controlled trial, which is one of the strongest types of medical research. Researchers took 260 children with cancer who weren’t eating enough and randomly divided them into two groups—like flipping a coin to decide who got what treatment. One group received standard nutrition therapy (regular nutrition help), while the other group received the same standard help PLUS a special food called RUTF that’s packed with calories and nutrients. The researchers measured how the children felt and functioned using a special test called the Health Utilities Index at the beginning and again after 6 weeks.

The Health Utilities Index is like a report card for how well a child is doing—it measures things like whether they can play, go to school, and how much pain or discomfort they have. The test has two different scoring systems (HUI2 and HUI3) that look at health in slightly different ways, kind of like how two different doctors might evaluate the same patient and notice different things.

Because researchers randomly assigned children to groups and compared them carefully, this study design helps prove that any differences between groups were likely caused by the nutrition treatment, not by other factors.

This research approach is important because cancer treatment is hard on children’s bodies—they often lose their appetite and don’t eat enough, which makes them weaker and sicker. By testing whether special nutrition support actually helps, doctors can figure out the best ways to help these children feel better. The study measured real-life improvements (how kids feel and function) rather than just numbers on a scale, which matters because feeling better is what really counts for children and families

This study is well-designed because: (1) it randomly assigned children to groups, which reduces bias; (2) it had a large number of participants (260 children), making results more reliable; (3) it measured outcomes in two different ways to make sure findings were real; (4) it was published in a peer-reviewed medical journal, meaning other experts reviewed it before publication. The main limitation is that it only lasted 6 weeks, so we don’t know if benefits continue longer. Also, the study focused on children with cancer, so results may not apply to other groups

What the Results Show

At the start of the study, both groups of children had similar health and quality of life scores—there were no meaningful differences between them. After 6 weeks of treatment, children who received the special food (RUTF) plus standard nutrition help showed better results than those who only got standard help.

When measured using one scoring system (HUI3), children receiving RUTF had scores of 0.90 compared to 0.79 for the standard-only group—a meaningful difference. This means the RUTF group had fewer health problems and felt better overall. The improvement was especially strong in children who were severely or moderately malnourished when they started.

Children who gained at least 10% of their body weight showed the biggest improvements in how they felt and functioned. These children had better scores on both measurement systems, suggesting that weight gain itself is an important part of feeling better.

At the beginning, about two-thirds of the children had moderate to severe health problems. After 6 weeks, this improved—fewer children had serious problems, and more children had no or only mild problems. This shift was more pronounced in the group receiving the special food.

The study found that children who gained weight experienced improvements across many different areas of health—not just one or two things. They had more energy, could do more activities, and experienced fewer symptoms related to their cancer treatment. The improvements happened relatively quickly (within 6 weeks), suggesting that nutrition support can have fairly rapid benefits. The study also showed that the special food (RUTF) was effective at helping children gain weight, which was the key to feeling better

This research builds on earlier studies showing that nutrition matters for cancer patients. However, this study is stronger because it specifically tested whether a special high-nutrition food actually improves how children feel and function, not just whether it helps them gain weight. Previous research suggested nutrition was important, but this study provides clearer proof that it really makes a difference in children’s daily lives and well-being

The study only lasted 6 weeks, so we don’t know if improvements continue beyond that time or if they last long-term. The study focused only on children with cancer, so these results may not apply to other groups of malnourished children. The study didn’t look at whether the special food works better than other types of nutrition support. Also, the study measured improvement using specific tests, but didn’t include detailed information about children’s own feelings about how much better they felt

The Bottom Line

For undernourished children with cancer: Special nutrition support, particularly foods designed to help children gain weight, appears to help them feel better and have fewer health problems (moderate confidence level based on this single study). This should always be done under the guidance of doctors and nutrition specialists who understand the child’s specific cancer treatment. For other groups of malnourished children: These results apply specifically to children with cancer and shouldn’t be assumed to work the same way for other conditions without additional research

This research matters most for: (1) children with cancer who aren’t eating enough; (2) parents and caregivers of children with cancer; (3) doctors and nutrition specialists treating children with cancer. This research is less relevant for: (1) healthy children; (2) adults with cancer (results may differ); (3) children with malnutrition from other causes (different treatment may be needed)

Based on this study, improvements in how children feel and function may appear within 6 weeks of starting nutrition support. However, the biggest improvements happened in children who gained at least 10% of their body weight, which may take several weeks to achieve. Long-term benefits beyond 6 weeks are unknown and would need additional research

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track weekly weight measurements and energy levels (on a simple 1-10 scale) for children receiving nutrition support. Also monitor ability to participate in daily activities like school attendance, playing, and eating meals
  • Work with healthcare providers to ensure consistent use of prescribed nutrition support, track whether the child is consuming the recommended amount of special food or supplements, and monitor appetite changes. Set weekly weight gain goals (typically 0.5-1 pound per week for children) and celebrate milestones
  • Create a simple weekly check-in system that tracks: (1) weight change; (2) energy level and mood; (3) ability to do normal activities; (4) appetite and food intake; (5) any side effects. Share this data with the child’s medical team to adjust nutrition support as needed

This research applies specifically to undernourished children with cancer. These findings should not be used to make medical decisions without consulting with the child’s oncologist and nutrition specialist. Nutrition support for children with cancer requires professional medical supervision because cancer treatments can affect how children process food and nutrients. Always work with your healthcare team before starting any new nutrition program. This summary is for educational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice.