Malnourished ChildrenZamCnCNCT07153913
Comprehensive Nutritional Support for Children in Zambia (ZamCNC) - A Pilot Investigation
A study testing Intensive growth support in people with Malnourished Children and Stunting of Growth, run by Günther Fink at 1 site in Zambia.
Trial summary
In a recently completed intervention study, more than 50% of children in Lusaka were found to be stunted by age two, even when nutritional supplements were provided. It seems likely that these high rates of stunting are primarily due to inadequate basic nutritional intake. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 6 to 12 monthsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Malnourished Children, Stunting of Growth
- What is being tested?
- Intensive growth support
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 64 participants
- Where
- 1 siteZambia
- Study dates
- 5 Sep 2025to 31 Dec 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 6 to 12 months
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
None listed.
Who cannot join
- expected to move
- no child health card
- participating in cash transfer programs
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
In a recently completed intervention study, more than 50% of children in Lusaka were found to be stunted by age two, even when nutritional supplements were provided. It seems likely that these high rates of stunting are primarily due to inadequate basic nutritional intake. The main goal of this project is investigate this conjecture through a small pilot study that will be conducted in the urban area of Lusaka.
Read the detailed description
This is very small cluster-randomized trial, with 64 families recruited from 4 selected neighbourhoods. 2 of these neighbourhoods will be selected for nutritional counselling and food support.
Children ages 6-12 months old and their caregivers will be included. Exclusion criteria: low birth weight; planning to move; twins.
All families will complete a baseline and endline assessment - each lasting approximately 30-45 minutes.
Children in the two intervention clusters will receive a visit every two weeks to discuss child nutrition, and to monitor height and weight gains. We will also provide additional food/groceries to mothers in the treatment group, i.e. to the 32 families in the two neighborhoods selected for treatment.
- Conditions
- Malnourished Children, Stunting of Growth
- Being tested
- Intensive growth support
- Keywords
- stunting, food supplementation, counseling, cash tranfers
- Medical subject headings
- Growth Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Intensive growth supportOther
For women in the intervention group, we will develop a nutritional plan for the child in collaboration with the mother. Mothers will then receive a visit every other week - during this visit, children's health and nutrition will be discussed, and height and weight will be measured by field officers. Detailed food recommendations will be made based on national and international infant and young child feeding guidelines. To ensure appropriate foods are available, field workers will drop off local foods on a weekly basis.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Control arm | No intervention | Families in control group will not receive any support through the study |
| Food provision and nutritional counseling | Experimental | Families will receive intensive support including bi-weekly nutritional counseling and weekly dropoffs of locally acquired food. Receives: Other: Intensive growth support |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Height-for-age z-score
Children's height for age z-score after six months of interventions
Measured: measured approximately 6 months after initiation of intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Sep 2025
- Study start5 Sep 2025
- Primary completion31 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Malnourished ChildrenStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 64 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Günther Fink
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Günther Fink, Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute
- Investigators
- Günther Fink, PhD, Principal investigator, Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07153913
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- ZamCnC
- Acronym
- ZamCnC
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 26 Aug 2025
- Last updated
- 7 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 7 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comprehensive Nutritional Support for Children in Zambia (ZamCNC) - A Pilot Investigation
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07153913
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ZamCnC / ZamCnC
- Conditions
- Malnourished Children, Stunting of Growth
- Keywords
- stunting, food supplementation, counseling, cash tranfers
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 64 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Günther FinkUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 5 Sep 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 4 Sep 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
In a recently completed intervention study, more than 50% of children in Lusaka were found to be stunted by age two, even when nutritional supplements were provided. It seems likely that these high rates of stunting are primarily due to inadequate basic nutritional intake. The main goal of this project is investigate this conjecture through a small pilot study that will be conducted in the urban area of Lusaka.
Detailed description
This is very small cluster-randomized trial, with 64 families recruited from 4 selected neighbourhoods. 2 of these neighbourhoods will be selected for nutritional counselling and food support.
Children ages 6-12 months old and their caregivers will be included. Exclusion criteria: low birth weight; planning to move; twins.
All families will complete a baseline and endline assessment - each lasting approximately 30-45 minutes.
Children in the two intervention clusters will receive a visit every two weeks to discuss child nutrition, and to monitor height and weight gains. We will also provide additional food/groceries to mothers in the treatment group, i.e. to the 32 families in the two neighborhoods selected for treatment.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Control arm | No intervention | –Families in control group will not receive any support through the study |
| Food provision and nutritional counseling | Experimental | Other: Intensive growth supportFamilies will receive intensive support including bi-weekly nutritional counseling and weekly dropoffs of locally acquired food. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 6 to 12 months
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (0 listed)
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- expected to move
- no child health card
- participating in cash transfer programs
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Intensive growth supportFor women in the intervention group, we will develop a nutritional plan for the child in collaboration with the mother. Mothers will then receive a visit every other week - during this visit, children's health and nutrition will be discussed, and height and weight will be measured by field officers. Detailed food recommendations will be made based on national and international infant and young child feeding guidelines. To ensure appropriate foods are available, field workers will drop off local foods on a weekly basis. | Other | Food provision and nutritional counseling |
Primary outcome
Height-for-age z-score
Time frame: measured approximately 6 months after initiation of intervention
Children's height for age z-score after six months of interventions
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 7 Jan 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Malnourished Children
Active, not recruitingPhase 2
Maternal Probiotic Intervention to Improve Gut Health-Trial II-Pakistan
Environmental Enteric Dysfunction (EED), Stunting
Recruiting
Role of Vitamin D Supplementation in Children With Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Vitamin D Deficiency
Active, not recruiting
Milk Fat Globule Membrane-Enhanced RUTF for Children With Severe Acute Malnutrition
Severe Acute Malnutrition, Cognitive Impairment
Active, not recruitingPhase 2
Comparative Efficacy of Antibiotics for Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth in Bangladeshi Children
Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth
Recruiting
Effectiveness of an Alternative Protocol in the Management of Acute Malnutrition
Acute Malnutrition With no Complications
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Günther Fink, PhD principal investigator
Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Intensive growth support in people with Malnourished Children and Stunting of Growth, run by Günther Fink at 1 site in Zambia.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 0 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Zambia. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Height-for-age z-score (time frame: measured approximately 6 months after initiation of intervention). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 Jan 2026.