Kenyan Scientists Explore Milk-Derived Nutraceuticals in Fight Against Childhood Malnutrition

A groundbreaking study at the KEMRI is investigating how natural compounds found in milk could help combat a hidden but devastating condition behind widespread childhood malnutrition in Kenya and other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

The condition, known as Environmental Enteric Dysfunction (EED), is caused by chronic exposure to enteric pathogens—bacteria and viruses that impair the small intestine’s ability to absorb nutrients. EED often goes unnoticed, yet it contributes significantly to child wasting, stunted growth, delayed brain development, and weakened immunity in children who may otherwise appear healthy.

Current estimates show that nearly 30 percent of Kenyan children between the ages of six and 24 months exhibit abnormal intestinal permeability, commonly referred to as “leaky gut,” a hallmark of EED.

In response, KEMRI researchers, led by an early career scientist, Mr. Kevin Kariuki, under the mentorship of Dr. Benson Singa, Dr. Patricia B. Pavlinac and Dr. Kirkby D. Tickell are evaluating the potential of two milk-derived nutraceuticals—lactoferrin and lysozyme—which may help protect against intestinal infections and reduce inflammation associated with EED. The Mentors are drawn from the KEMRI and the University of Washington.

The study is part of a large-scale, double-blind, placebocontrolled, randomized clinical trial where children receive either lactoferrin, lysozyme, a combination of both, or a placebo over a 16-week period.

What sets this phase of the study apart is the addition of biomarker analysis, aimed at identifying biological indicators of EED and assessing how the nutraceuticals influence the disease’s progression and related health outcomes.

“If successful, this could be the effective treatment for the management of EED in LMICs,” said Kariuki, underscoring the study’s potential to reshape interventions for child malnutrition in vulnerable populations.

The findings could not only strengthen Kenya’s role in global health research but also bring much-needed hope to millions of families affected by malnutrition-related conditions across the region.

This work is supported by funding from the US-based charity, Cures Within Research Foundation (CWR).