Using milk-derived supplements to help children recover from diarrhea and malnutrition
Official title: Lactoferrin and lysozyme to promote nutritional, clinical, and enteric recovery: A factorial placebo-controlled randomized trial among children with diarrhea and malnutrition
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-10991382 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether two milk-based supplements, lactoferrin and lysozyme, can help young children aged 6 to 24 months recover faster from diarrhea and malnutrition after being in the hospital.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2021 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $642,554 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD103642-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10991382 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are Kenyan children aged 6-24 months who have been discharged from a hospital for diarrhea and have a mid-upper arm circumference indicating malnutrition.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not within the specified age range or who do not have a history of diarrhea and malnutrition may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effects of lactoferrin and lysozyme, two nutritional supplements derived from milk, on children recovering from diarrhea and malnutrition. The study involves a randomized trial where children aged 6-24 months, who have recently been hospitalized for diarrhea, will receive either the supplements or a placebo over a 16-week period. The goal is to determine if these supplements can reduce the duration of diarrhea, improve nutritional recovery, and prevent further health complications. Participants will be closely monitored to assess their clinical and nutritional outcomes throughout the trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to effective nutritional interventions that significantly improve recovery outcomes for children suffering from diarrhea and malnutrition.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using milk-derived supplements for improving health outcomes in malnourished children, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pavlinac, Patricia — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Pavlinac, Patricia
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.