ARS | Publication request: Letter to the editor: The devil is in the details

Submitted to: Nutrition Reviews
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: February 1, 2011
Publication Date: February 6, 2011
Citation: De Pee, S., Manary, M., Ashorn, P. 2011. Letter to the editor: The devil is in the details. Nutrition Reviews. 69(2):116-117.

Technical Abstract: The misuse of terms and nomenclature to describe malnutrition, therapeutic, and supplementary foods can lead to confusion and misunderstanding regarding how to best treat malnutrition and hinder progress and delivery of care to children suffering from malnutrition. This article clarifies the different types of acute malnutrition; moderate and severe, as well as corrects nomenclature for nutritional products used in a review published on preventing malnutrition. This article differentiates between ready-to-use-therapeutic food used to treat severe malnutrition and complementary food supplements used to treat moderate malnutrition, as well as discusses their compositions and distinguishing properties. By clarifying terminology and correct use of interventions the article informs readers on the appropriate treatment for malnutrition and provides valuable information to the medical community.