Biochemical Assessment of Nutritional Rehabilitation in Severely Malnourished Children in Sokoto State

Severe acute malnutrition remains a critical child health emergency in North West Nigeria, with Sokoto State recording among the highest rates of acute malnutrition in the country. This study undertakes a biochemical assessment of nutritional recovery in severely malnourished children aged 6 to 59 months enrolled in a therapeutic feeding programme in Sokoto State. A prospective longitudinal design was adopted, monitoring 100 children at admission and at weeks 2, 4, and 8 of nutritional rehabilitation. Biochemical markers including serum albumin, total protein, ferritin, zinc, haemoglobin, and electrolytes were measured at each time point. Anthropometric recovery measured by weight-for-height z-scores was correlated with biochemical improvements. Compliance with the standard WHO therapeutic feeding protocol was evaluated. The study also explores the relationship between baseline biochemical severity and the speed of nutritional recovery. Findings are expected to identify biochemical markers that best predict recovery outcomes and to highlight gaps in current therapeutic feeding practice in the study setting. Recommendations for biochemical monitoring during nutritional rehabilitation in resource-limited settings in North West Nigeria are provided. Keywords: severe acute malnutrition, nutritional rehabilitation, serum albumin, therapeutic feeding, Sokoto State.