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Fink G, Locks LM, Lauer JM, Chembe M, Henderson S, Sikazwe D, Billima-Mulenga T, Parkerson D, Rockers PC. The impact of home-installed growth charts and small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) on child growth in Zambia: a four-arm parallel open-label cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ Glob Health 2024; 9:e015438. [PMID: 39153751 PMCID: PMC11331861 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2024-015438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood stunting remains common in many low-income settings and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, as well as impaired child development. METHODS The main objective of the study was to assess whether home-installed growth charts as well as small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) can reduce growth faltering among infants. All caregivers of infants between 2 and 10 months of age at baseline, and at least 6 months old at the beginning of the interventions, in 282 randomly selected enumeration areas in Choma, Mansa and Lusaka districts in Zambia were invited to participate in the study. Cluster randomisation was stratified by district. A software-generated random number draw was used to assign clusters to one of four arms: (1) no intervention (control); (2) home installation of a wall chart that contained a growth monitoring tool along with key messages on infant and young child feeding and nutrition (growth charts only); (3) 30 sachets of SQ-LNS delivered each month (SQ-LNS only) or (4) growth charts+SQ LNS. The primary outcomes were children's height-for-age z-score (HAZ) and stunting (HAZ <-2) after 18 months of intervention. Secondary outcomes were haemoglobin (Hb), anaemia (Hb<110.0 g/L), weight-for-height, weight-for-age z-score (WAZ), underweight (WAZ<-2) and child development measured by the Global Scales of Early Development (GSED). Outcomes were analysed intention to treat using adjusted linear and logistic regression models and compared each of the three interventions to the control group. Assessors and analysts were blinded to the treatment-blinding of participating families was not possible. RESULTS A total of 2291 caregiver-child dyads across the 282 study clusters were included in the study. 70 clusters (557 dyads) were assigned to the control group, 70 clusters (643 dyads) to growth charts only, 71 clusters (525 dyads) to SQ-LNS and 71 clusters (566 dyads) to SQ-LNS and growth charts. SQ-LNS improved HAZ by 0.21 SD (95% CI 0.06 to 0.36) and reduced the odds of stunting by 37% (adjusted OR, aOR 0.63, 95% CI (0.46 to 0.87)). No HAZ or stunting impacts were found in the growth charts only or growth charts+SQ LNS arms. SQ-LNS only improved WAZ (mean difference, MD 0.17, 95% CI (0.05 to 0.28). No impacts on WAZ were seen for growth charts and the combined intervention. Child development was higher in the growth charts only (MD 0.18, 95% CI (0.01 to 0.35)) and SQ-LNS only arms (MD 0.28, 95% CI (0.09 to 0.46). SQ-LNS improved average haemoglobin levels (MD 2.9 g/L (0.2, 5.5). The combined intervention did not have an impact on WAZ, Hb or GSED but reduced the odds of anaemia (aOR 0.72, 95% CI (0.53 to 0.97)). No adverse events were reported. INTERPRETATION SQ-LNS appears to be effective in reducing growth faltering as well as improving anaemia and child development. Growth charts also show the potential to reduce anaemia and improve child development but do not seem as effective in addressing growth faltering. Further research is needed to better understand reduced effectiveness when both interventions are combined. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT051204272.
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Affiliation(s)
- Günther Fink
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Lindsey M Locks
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Health Sciences, Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jacqueline M. Lauer
- Department of Health Sciences, Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mpela Chembe
- Innovations for Poverty Action Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Savanna Henderson
- Innovations for Poverty Action, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | | | | | - Doug Parkerson
- Innovations for Poverty Action, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Peter C Rockers
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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2
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McDonald CM, Wessells KR, Stewart CP, Dewey KG, de Pee S, Rana R, Hafeez-Ur-Rehman H, Mwangi MN, Hess SY. Perinatal intervention strategies providing food with micronutrients to pregnant and breastfeeding women in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review. MATERNAL & CHILD NUTRITION 2024:e13681. [PMID: 38949186 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
In resource-constrained settings, pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls (PBW/G) are particularly vulnerable to undernutrition. Micronutrient-fortified balanced energy protein (BEP) supplementation may be provided to boost maternal nutritional status and improve birth and infant outcomes. We conducted a scoping review of the published literature to determine the impact of BEP and other related nutrition interventions that provided fortified food or cash along with a minimum of 3 micronutrients on maternal, birth, and infant/child outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. We conducted a PubMed search using pre-defined keywords and controlled vocabulary search terms. All titles and abstracts were reviewed for eligibility by two independent reviewers, and data were extracted according to outcome type. We identified 149 eligible research articles that reported on a total of 21 trials and/or programme evaluations which assessed the health impact of one or more products (fortified lipid-based nutrient supplement [LNS, n = 12], fortified blended flours [n = 5], milk-based beverages [n = 2], and local food/snacks [n = 3]) that provided 118-750 kcal/day and varying levels of protein and micronutrients. Only one of these programme evaluations assessed the impact of the provision of cash and fortified food. Effects on maternal outcomes such as gestational weight gain and duration of gestation were promising but inconsistent. Birth outcomes were reported in 15 studies, and the effects on birthweight and birth length were generally positive. Seven studies demonstrated sustained benefits on infant and child growth out of the 15 studies that reported at least one of these outcomes, although data were sparse. Additional research is needed to investigate issues of dose, cost-effectiveness, and incorporation into multi-component interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine M McDonald
- Departments of Pediatrics, and Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Institute for Global Nutrition and Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - K Ryan Wessells
- Institute for Global Nutrition and Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Christine P Stewart
- Institute for Global Nutrition and Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Kathryn G Dewey
- Institute for Global Nutrition and Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Saskia de Pee
- Nutrition Division, World Food Programme HQ, Rome, Italy
| | - Ritu Rana
- Nutrition Division, World Food Programme HQ, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Sonja Y Hess
- Institute for Global Nutrition and Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, California, USA
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3
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Butzin-Dozier Z, Ji Y, Coyle J, Malenica I, McQuade ETR, Grembi JA, Platts-Mills JA, Houpt ER, Graham JP, Ali S, Rahman MZ, Alauddin M, Famida SL, Akther S, Hossen MS, Mutsuddi P, Shoab AK, Rahman M, Islam MO, Miah R, Taniuchi M, Liu J, Alauddin S, Stewart CP, Luby SP, Colford JM, Hubbard AE, Mertens AN, Lin A. Treatment Heterogeneity of Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, and Nutrition Interventions on Child Growth by Environmental Enteric Dysfunction and Pathogen Status for Young Children in Bangladesh. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.03.21.24304684. [PMID: 38585931 PMCID: PMC10996736 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.21.24304684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Background Water, sanitation, hygiene (WSH), nutrition (N), and combined (N+WSH) interventions are often implemented by global health organizations, but WSH interventions may insufficiently reduce pathogen exposure, and nutrition interventions may be modified by environmental enteric dysfunction (EED), a condition of increased intestinal permeability and inflammation. This study investigated the heterogeneity of these treatments' effects based on individual pathogen and EED biomarker status with respect to child linear growth. Methods We applied cross-validated targeted maximum likelihood estimation and super learner ensemble machine learning to assess the conditional treatment effects in subgroups defined by biomarker and pathogen status. We analyzed treatment (N+WSH, WSH, N, or control) randomly assigned in-utero, child pathogen and EED data at 14 months of age, and child LAZ at 28 months of age. We estimated the difference in mean child length for age Z-score (LAZ) under the treatment rule and the difference in stratified treatment effect (treatment effect difference) comparing children with high versus low pathogen/biomarker status while controlling for baseline covariates. Results We analyzed data from 1,522 children, who had median LAZ of -1.56. We found that myeloperoxidase (N+WSH treatment effect difference 0.0007 LAZ, WSH treatment effect difference 0.1032 LAZ, N treatment effect difference 0.0037 LAZ) and Campylobacter infection (N+WSH treatment effect difference 0.0011 LAZ, WSH difference 0.0119 LAZ, N difference 0.0255 LAZ) were associated with greater effect of all interventions on growth. In other words, children with high myeloperoxidase or Campylobacter infection experienced a greater impact of the interventions on growth. We found that a treatment rule that assigned the N+WSH (LAZ difference 0.23, 95% CI (0.05, 0.41)) and WSH (LAZ difference 0.17, 95% CI (0.04, 0.30)) interventions based on EED biomarkers and pathogens increased predicted child growth compared to the randomly allocated intervention. Conclusions These findings indicate that EED biomarker and pathogen status, particularly Campylobacter and myeloperoxidase (a measure of gut inflammation), may be related to impact of N+WSH, WSH, and N interventions on child linear growth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yunwen Ji
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Jeremy Coyle
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Ivana Malenica
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | | | - Jessica Anne Grembi
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA
| | | | - Eric R. Houpt
- School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Jay P. Graham
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Shahjahan Ali
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Ziaur Rahman
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Alauddin
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Syeda L. Famida
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Salma Akther
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Saheen Hossen
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Palash Mutsuddi
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Abul K. Shoab
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mahbubur Rahman
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Ohedul Islam
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Rana Miah
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mami Taniuchi
- School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Jie Liu
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | | | | | - Stephen P. Luby
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA
| | - John M. Colford
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Alan E. Hubbard
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Andrew N. Mertens
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Audrie Lin
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA USA
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Gough EK, Edens TJ, Carr L, Robertson RC, Mutasa K, Ntozini R, Chasekwa B, Geum HM, Baharmand I, Gill SK, Mutasa B, Mbuya MNN, Majo FD, Tavengwa N, Francis F, Tome J, Evans C, Kosek M, Prendergast AJ, Manges AR. Bifidobacterium longum modifies a nutritional intervention for stunting in Zimbabwean infants. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.01.18.24301438. [PMID: 38293149 PMCID: PMC10827232 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.18.24301438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Child stunting is an indicator of chronic undernutrition and reduced human capital. However, it remains a poorly understood public health problem. Small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) have been widely tested to reduce stunting, but have modest effects. The infant intestinal microbiome may contribute to stunting, and is partly shaped by mother and infant histo-blood group antigens (HBGA). We investigated whether mother-infant fucosyltransferase status, which governs HBGA, and the infant gut microbiome modified the impact of SQ-LNS on stunting at age 18 months among Zimbabwean infants in the SHINE Trial ( NCT01824940 ). We found that mother-infant fucosyltransferase discordance and Bifidobacterium longum reduced SQ-LNS efficacy. Infant age-related microbiome shifts in B. longum subspecies dominance from infantis , a proficient human milk oligosaccharide utilizer, to suis or longum , proficient plant-polysaccharide utilizers, were partly influenced by discordance in mother-infant FUT2+/FUT3- phenotype, suggesting that a "younger" microbiome at initiation of SQ-LNS reduces its benefits on stunting.
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5
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Moore SE. Sex differences in growth and neurocognitive development in infancy and early childhood. Proc Nutr Soc 2024:1-8. [PMID: 38326969 DOI: 10.1017/s0029665124000144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Undernutrition in early life remains a significant public health challenge affecting millions of infants and young children globally. Children who are wasted, stunted or underweight are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Undernutrition at critical periods also impacts on aspects of neurodevelopment, with longer-term consequences to educational performance and mental health outcomes. Despite consistent evidence highlighting an increased risk of neonatal and infant mortality among boys, a common assumption held across many disciplines is that girls are more vulnerable with respect to early-life exposures. In relation to undernutrition, however, recent evidence indicates the reverse, and in contexts of food insecurity, boys are at increased risk of undernutrition in early life compared to girls, with sex-specific risks for neurodevelopmental deficits. These effects appear independent of social factors that may favour boys, such as gender disparities in infant feeding practices and health-seeking behaviours. The observed vulnerability among boys may therefore be underpinned by biological processes such as differential energy requirements during periods of rapid growth. As boys have greater needs for growth and maintenance, then, in times of nutritional hardship, these needs may not be met resulting in risk of undernutrition and subsequent health consequences. In view of this emerging evidence, a greater understanding of the mechanisms behind this vulnerability among boys is needed and policy considerations to protect boys should be considered. This review will explore sex differences in risk of undernutrition and consider these in the context of existing programmes and policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie E Moore
- Department of Women and Children's Health, King's College London, LondonSE1 7EH, UK
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6
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Dewey KG, Arnold CD, Wessells KR, Stewart CP. Lipid-based nutrient supplements for prevention of child undernutrition: when less may be more. Am J Clin Nutr 2023; 118:1133-1144. [PMID: 37742931 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Both small-quantity and medium-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) have been used for the prevention of child undernutrition. A meta-analysis of 14 trials of small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) - no LNS showed effects on length-for-age z-score {LAZ, +0.14 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.11, 0.16]} and weight-for-length z-score [WLZ, +0.08 (0.06, 0.10)] z-scores, as well as prevalence ratios (95% CI) for stunting [LAZ < -2, 0.88 (0.85, 0.91)] and wasting [WLZ < -2, 0.86 (0.80, 0.93)]. However, little is known about the effects of medium-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (MQ-LNS) on growth. OBJECTIVES We aimed to examine the effects of preventive MQ-LNS (∼250-499 kcal/d) provided at ∼6-23 mo of age on growth outcomes - no LNS or provision of SQ-LNS. METHODS We conducted a systematic review of studies of MQ-LNS for prevention, and categorized them as providing <6 mo - ≥6 mo of supplementation; for the latter category, we conducted a meta-analysis, with the main outcomes being change in WLZ and LAZ, and prevalence of wasting and stunting. RESULTS Three studies provided MQ-LNS for 3-5 mo (seasonal) for children 6-36 mo of age, and did not show consistent effects on growth outcomes. Eight studies provided MQ-LNS for 6-18 mo, generally starting at 6 mo of age; in the meta-analysis (max total n = 13,954), MQ-LNS increased WLZ [+0.09 (95% CI: 0.05, 0.13)] and reduced wasting [0.89 (0.81, 0.97)], but had no effect on LAZ [+0.04 (-0.02, 0.11)] or stunting [0.97 (0.92, 1.02)] - no LNS. Two studies directly compared SQ-LNS and MQ-LNS and showed no significant differences in growth outcomes. CONCLUSIONS The current evidence suggests that MQ-LNS offer no added benefits over SQ-LNS, although further studies directly comparing MQ-LNS with SQ-LNS would be useful. One possible explanation is incomplete consumption of the MQ-LNS ration and thus lower than desirable intake of certain nutrients. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER Registry and registry number for systematic reviews or meta-analyses: Registered with PROSPERO as CRD42022382448 on December 18, 2022: =https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022382448.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn G Dewey
- Institute for Global Nutrition and Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.
| | - Charles D Arnold
- Institute for Global Nutrition and Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - K Ryan Wessells
- Institute for Global Nutrition and Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Christine P Stewart
- Institute for Global Nutrition and Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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7
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Mertens A, Benjamin-Chung J, Colford JM, Coyle J, van der Laan MJ, Hubbard AE, Rosete S, Malenica I, Hejazi N, Sofrygin O, Cai W, Li H, Nguyen A, Pokpongkiat NN, Djajadi S, Seth A, Jung E, Chung EO, Jilek W, Subramoney V, Hafen R, Häggström J, Norman T, Brown KH, Christian P, Arnold BF. Causes and consequences of child growth faltering in low-resource settings. Nature 2023; 621:568-576. [PMID: 37704722 PMCID: PMC10511328 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06501-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Growth faltering in children (low length for age or low weight for length) during the first 1,000 days of life (from conception to 2 years of age) influences short-term and long-term health and survival1,2. Interventions such as nutritional supplementation during pregnancy and the postnatal period could help prevent growth faltering, but programmatic action has been insufficient to eliminate the high burden of stunting and wasting in low- and middle-income countries. Identification of age windows and population subgroups on which to focus will benefit future preventive efforts. Here we use a population intervention effects analysis of 33 longitudinal cohorts (83,671 children, 662,763 measurements) and 30 separate exposures to show that improving maternal anthropometry and child condition at birth accounted for population increases in length-for-age z-scores of up to 0.40 and weight-for-length z-scores of up to 0.15 by 24 months of age. Boys had consistently higher risk of all forms of growth faltering than girls. Early postnatal growth faltering predisposed children to subsequent and persistent growth faltering. Children with multiple growth deficits exhibited higher mortality rates from birth to 2 years of age than children without growth deficits (hazard ratios 1.9 to 8.7). The importance of prenatal causes and severe consequences for children who experienced early growth faltering support a focus on pre-conception and pregnancy as a key opportunity for new preventive interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Mertens
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Jade Benjamin-Chung
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - John M Colford
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jeremy Coyle
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Mark J van der Laan
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Alan E Hubbard
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Sonali Rosete
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Ivana Malenica
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Nima Hejazi
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Oleg Sofrygin
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Wilson Cai
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Haodong Li
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Anna Nguyen
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Nolan N Pokpongkiat
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Stephanie Djajadi
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Anmol Seth
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Esther Jung
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Esther O Chung
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Wendy Jilek
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - Ryan Hafen
- Hafen Consulting, West Richland, WA, USA
| | | | - Thea Norman
- Quantitative Sciences, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kenneth H Brown
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Parul Christian
- Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Benjamin F Arnold
- Francis I. Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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8
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Mertens A, Benjamin-Chung J, Colford JM, Hubbard AE, van der Laan MJ, Coyle J, Sofrygin O, Cai W, Jilek W, Rosete S, Nguyen A, Pokpongkiat NN, Djajadi S, Seth A, Jung E, Chung EO, Malenica I, Hejazi N, Li H, Hafen R, Subramoney V, Häggström J, Norman T, Christian P, Brown KH, Arnold BF. Child wasting and concurrent stunting in low- and middle-income countries. Nature 2023; 621:558-567. [PMID: 37704720 PMCID: PMC10511327 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06480-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Sustainable Development Goal 2.2-to end malnutrition by 2030-includes the elimination of child wasting, defined as a weight-for-length z-score that is more than two standard deviations below the median of the World Health Organization standards for child growth1. Prevailing methods to measure wasting rely on cross-sectional surveys that cannot measure onset, recovery and persistence-key features that inform preventive interventions and estimates of disease burden. Here we analyse 21 longitudinal cohorts and show that wasting is a highly dynamic process of onset and recovery, with incidence peaking between birth and 3 months. Many more children experience an episode of wasting at some point during their first 24 months than prevalent cases at a single point in time suggest. For example, at the age of 24 months, 5.6% of children were wasted, but by the same age (24 months), 29.2% of children had experienced at least one wasting episode and 10.0% had experienced two or more episodes. Children who were wasted before the age of 6 months had a faster recovery and shorter episodes than did children who were wasted at older ages; however, early wasting increased the risk of later growth faltering, including concurrent wasting and stunting (low length-for-age z-score), and thus increased the risk of mortality. In diverse populations with high seasonal rainfall, the population average weight-for-length z-score varied substantially (more than 0.5 z in some cohorts), with the lowest mean z-scores occurring during the rainiest months; this indicates that seasonally targeted interventions could be considered. Our results show the importance of establishing interventions to prevent wasting from birth to the age of 6 months, probably through improved maternal nutrition, to complement current programmes that focus on children aged 6-59 months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Mertens
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Jade Benjamin-Chung
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - John M Colford
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Alan E Hubbard
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Mark J van der Laan
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jeremy Coyle
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Oleg Sofrygin
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Wilson Cai
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Wendy Jilek
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Sonali Rosete
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Anna Nguyen
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Nolan N Pokpongkiat
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Stephanie Djajadi
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Anmol Seth
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Esther Jung
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Esther O Chung
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Ivana Malenica
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Nima Hejazi
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Haodong Li
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Ryan Hafen
- Hafen Consulting, West Richland, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Thea Norman
- Quantitative Sciences, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Parul Christian
- Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kenneth H Brown
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Benjamin F Arnold
- Francis I. Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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9
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Jones HJ, Bourke CD, Swann JR, Robertson RC. Malnourished Microbes: Host-Microbiome Interactions in Child Undernutrition. Annu Rev Nutr 2023; 43:327-353. [PMID: 37207356 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-nutr-061121-091234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Childhood undernutrition is a major global health burden that is only partially resolved by nutritional interventions. Both chronic and acute forms of child undernutrition are characterized by derangements in multiple biological systems including metabolism, immunity, and endocrine systems. A growing body of evidence supports a role of the gut microbiome in mediating these pathways influencing early life growth. Observational studies report alterations in the gut microbiome of undernourished children, while preclinical studies suggest that this can trigger intestinal enteropathy, alter host metabolism, and disrupt immune-mediated resistance against enteropathogens, each of which contribute to poor early life growth. Here, we compile evidence from preclinical and clinical studies and describe the emerging pathophysiological pathways by which the early life gut microbiome influences host metabolism, immunity, intestinal function, endocrine regulation, and other pathways contributing to child undernutrition. We discuss emerging microbiome-directed therapies and consider future research directions to identify and target microbiome-sensitive pathways in child undernutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen J Jones
- Centre for Genomics & Child Health, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom;
| | - Claire D Bourke
- Centre for Genomics & Child Health, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom;
| | - Jonathan R Swann
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- School of Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Ruairi C Robertson
- Centre for Genomics & Child Health, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom;
- Microenvironment and Immunity Unit, INSERM U1224, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
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10
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Jannat K, Agho KE, Parvez SM, Rahman M, Thomson R, Amin MB, Merom D. The Effects of Yogurt Supplementation and Nutritional Education on Malnourished Infants: A Pilot RCT in Dhaka's Slums. Nutrients 2023; 15:2986. [PMID: 37447313 DOI: 10.3390/nu15132986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Our objective was to quantify the effects of yogurt supplementation and nutrition education over three months on the linear growth of infants at risk of stunting. We conducted a three-arm pilot randomized controlled trial: (1) nutrition education for mothers; (2) nutrition education plus a daily yogurt supplement (50 g) for the index child; and (3) usual care (control). Dyads of children aged 4-6 months and at risk of stunting [length-for-age z-score (LAZ) ≤ -1 SD and >-2 SD] and their mothers with ≤10 years of education were eligible for the study. Participants were recruited from five slum areas in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Intention-to-treat (N = 162) and complete-case analyses (N = 127) showed no between-group statistically significant differences in LAZ or weight-for-age (WAZ). However, the yogurt group showed greater change in linear growth compared to the control (LAZ: mean difference 0.20, 95% CI: -0.06, 0.47, p-value 0.13), which was also slightly greater than the education-only group. Children in the yogurt plus group were five times (95% CI: 0.80, 31.80, p-value 0.09) more likely to meet the minimum dietary diversity (MDD) score compared to the control. A 3-month follow-up of this pilot study did not demonstrate that yogurt was beneficial to linear growth. However, there were encouraging trends that merit replication of the intervention with larger samples and longer follow-ups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaniz Jannat
- Centre for Research in Mathematics and Data Science, School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
| | - Kingsley Emwinyore Agho
- Centre for Research in Mathematics and Data Science, School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
| | - Sarker Masud Parvez
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Laboratory of Food Safety and One Health, Infectious Disease Division, Laboratory Sciences and Services Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
- Children's Health and Environment Program, Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia
| | - Mahbubur Rahman
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Laboratory of Food Safety and One Health, Infectious Disease Division, Laboratory Sciences and Services Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Russell Thomson
- Centre for Research in Mathematics and Data Science, School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
| | - Mohammed Badrul Amin
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Laboratory of Food Safety and One Health, Infectious Disease Division, Laboratory Sciences and Services Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Dafna Merom
- Centre for Research in Mathematics and Data Science, School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
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11
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Benefits of small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements for child nutrition and survival warrant moving to scale. NATURE FOOD 2023; 4:130-132. [PMID: 37117857 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-023-00703-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
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12
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Tong H, Piwoz E, Ruel MT, Brown KH, Black RE, Walker N. Maternal and child nutrition in the Lives Saved Tool: Results of a recent update. J Glob Health 2022; 12:08005. [PMID: 36583418 PMCID: PMC9801341 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.12.08005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Lives Saved Tool (LiST) is a mathematical modelling tool for estimating the survival, health, and nutritional impacts of scaling intervention coverage in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Various nutrition interventions are included in LiST and are regularly (and independently) reviewed and updated as new data emerge. This manuscript describes our latest in-depth review of nutrition evidence, focusing on intervention efficacy, appropriate population-affected fractions, and new interventions for potential inclusion in the LiST model. Methods An external advisory group (EAG) was assembled to review evidence from systematic reviews on intervention-outcome (I-O) pairs for women and children under five years of age. GRADE quality was assigned to each pair based on a LiST-specific checklist to facilitate consistent decisions during the consideration. For existing interventions with new information, the EAG was asked to recommend whether to update the default efficacy values and population-affected fractions. For the new interventions, the EAG decided whether there was sufficient evidence of benefit, and in affirmative cases, information on the efficacy and affected fraction values that could be used. Decisions were based on expert group consensus. Results Overall, the group reviewed 53 nutrition-related I-O pairs, including 25 existing and 28 new ones. Efficacy and population-affected fractions were updated for seven I-O pairs; three pairs were updated for efficacy estimates only, three were updated for population-affected fractions only; and nine new I-O pairs were added to the model, bringing the total of nutrition-related I-O pairs to 34. Included in the new I-O pairs were two new nutrition interventions added to LIST: zinc fortification and neonatal vitamin A supplementation. Conclusions For modelling tools like LiST to be useful, it is crucial to update interventions, efficacy and population-affected fractions as new evidence becomes available. The present updates will enable LiST users to better estimate the potential health, nutrition, and survival benefits of investing in nutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Tong
- Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ellen Piwoz
- Independent Consultant, Annapolis, Maryland, USA
| | - Marie T Ruel
- Poverty, Health, and Nutrition Division, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Kenneth H Brown
- Department of Nutrition and Institute for Global Nutrition, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Robert E Black
- Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Neff Walker
- Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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