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Broad J, Robertson RC, Evans C, Perussolo J, Lum G, Piper JD, Loucaides E, Ziruma A, Chasekwa B, Ntozini R, Bourke CD, Prendergast AJ. Maternal inflammatory and microbial drivers of low birthweight in low- and middle-income countries. Paediatr Int Child Health 2024:1-15. [PMID: 39066726 DOI: 10.1080/20469047.2024.2380974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low birthweight (LBW) is when an infant is born too soon or too small, and it affects one in seven infants in low- and middle-income countries. LBW has a significant impact on short-term morbidity and mortality, and it impairs long-term health and human capital. Antenatal microbial and inflammatory exposure may contribute to LBW. METHODS Ovid-Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched for English-language articles evaluating inflammatory, microbial or infective causes of LBW, small-for-gestational age, intra-uterine growth restriction or prematurity. Inclusion criteria were human studies including published data; conference abstracts and grey literature were excluded. A narrative synthesis of the literature was conducted. RESULTS Local infections may drive the underlying causes of LBW: for example, vaginitis and placental infection are associated with a greater risk of prematurity. Distal infection and inflammatory pathways are also associated with LBW, with an association between periodontitis and preterm delivery and environmental enteric dysfunction and reduced intra-uterine growth. Systemic maternal infections such as malaria and HIV are associated with LBW, even when infants are exposed to HIV but not infected. This latter association may be driven by chronic inflammation, co-infections and socio-economic confounders. Antimicrobial prophylaxis against other bacteria in pregnancy has shown minimal impact in most trials, though positive effects on birthweight have been found in some settings with a high infectious disease burden. CONCLUSION Maternal inflammatory and infective processes underlie LBW, and provide treatable pathways for interventions. However, an improved understanding of the mechanisms and pathways underlying LBW is needed, given the impact of LBW on life-course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Broad
- Maternal and Child Health Research Department, Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Paediatrics Department, Croydon University Hospital, London, UK
| | - Ruairi C Robertson
- Maternal and Child Health Research Department, Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Ceri Evans
- Maternal and Child Health Research Department, Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, Liverpool, UK
| | - Jeniffer Perussolo
- Maternal and Child Health Research Department, Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Gina Lum
- Centre for Genomics and Child Health, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK
| | - Joe D Piper
- Maternal and Child Health Research Department, Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Eva Loucaides
- Paediatrics Department, Croydon University Hospital, London, UK
| | - Asaph Ziruma
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Bernard Chasekwa
- Maternal and Child Health Research Department, Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Robert Ntozini
- Maternal and Child Health Research Department, Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Claire D Bourke
- Maternal and Child Health Research Department, Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Andrew J Prendergast
- Maternal and Child Health Research Department, Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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2
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Evans C, Mutasa K, Rukobo S, Govha M, Mushayanembwa P, Chasekwa B, Majo FD, Tavengwa NV, Broad J, Noble C, Gough EK, Kelly P, Bourke CD, Humphrey JH, Ntozini R, Prendergast AJ. Inflammation and cytomegalovirus viremia during pregnancy drive sex-differentiated differences in mortality and immune development in HIV-exposed infants. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2909. [PMID: 38632279 PMCID: PMC11024190 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44166-2] [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: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Children who are HIV-exposed but uninfected have increased infectious mortality compared to HIV-unexposed children, raising the possibility of immune abnormalities following exposure to maternal viraemia, immune dysfunction, and co-infections during pregnancy. In a secondary analysis of the SHINE trial in rural Zimbabwe we explored biological pathways underlying infant mortality, and maternal factors shaping immune development in HIV-exposed uninfected infants. Maternal inflammation and cytomegalovirus viraemia were independently associated with infant deaths: mortality doubled for each log10 rise in maternal C-reactive protein (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 2.09; 95% CI 1.33-3.27), and increased 1.6-fold for each log10 rise in maternal cytomegalovirus viral load (aHR 1.62; 95% CI 1.11-2.36). In girls, mortality was more strongly associated with maternal C-reactive protein than cytomegalovirus; in boys, mortality was more strongly associated with cytomegalovirus than C-reactive protein. At age one month, HIV-exposed uninfected infants had a distinct immune milieu, characterised by raised soluble CD14 and an altered CD8 + T-cell compartment. Alterations in immunophenotype and systemic inflammation were generally greater in boys than girls. Collectively, these findings show how the pregnancy immune environment in women with HIV underlies mortality and immune development in their offspring in a sex-differentiated manner, and highlights potential new intervention strategies to transform outcomes of HIV-exposed children. ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01824940.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ceri Evans
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe.
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
| | - Kuda Mutasa
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Sandra Rukobo
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Margaret Govha
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | | | - Bernard Chasekwa
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Florence D Majo
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Naume V Tavengwa
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Jonathan Broad
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Christie Noble
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Ethan K Gough
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Paul Kelly
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Tropical Gastroenterology & Nutrition Group, University of Zambia School of Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Claire D Bourke
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Jean H Humphrey
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Robert Ntozini
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Andrew J Prendergast
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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3
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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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4
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Luoma J, Adubra L, Ashorn P, Ashorn U, Bendabenda J, Dewey KG, Hallamaa L, Coghlan R, Horton WA, Hyöty H, Kortekangas E, Lehto KM, Maleta K, Matchado A, Nkhoma M, Oikarinen S, Parkkila S, Purmonen S, Fan YM. Association between asymptomatic infections and linear growth in 18-24-month-old Malawian children. MATERNAL & CHILD NUTRITION 2023; 19:e13417. [PMID: 36111423 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Inadequate diet and frequent symptomatic infections are considered major causes of growth stunting in low-income countries, but interventions targeting these risk factors have achieved limited success. Asymptomatic infections can restrict growth, but little is known about their role in global stunting prevalence. We investigated factors related to length-for-age Z-score (LAZ) at 24 months by constructing an interconnected network of various infections, biomarkers of inflammation (as assessed by alpha-1-acid glycoprotein [AGP]), and growth (insulin-like growth factor 1 [IGF-1] and collagen X biomarker [CXM]) at 18 months, as well as other children, maternal, and household level factors. Among 604 children, there was a continuous decline in mean LAZ and increased mean length deficit from birth to 24 months. At 18 months of age, the percentage of asymptomatic children who carried each pathogen was: 84.5% enterovirus, 15.5% parechovirus, 7.7% norovirus, 4.6% rhinovirus, 0.6% rotavirus, 69.6% Campylobacter, 53.8% Giardia lamblia, 11.9% malaria parasites, 10.2% Shigella, and 2.7% Cryptosporidium. The mean plasma IGF-1 concentration was 12.5 ng/ml and 68% of the children had systemic inflammation (plasma AGP concentration >1 g/L). Shigella infection was associated with lower LAZ at 24 months through both direct and indirect pathways, whereas enterovirus, norovirus, Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, and malaria infections were associated with lower LAZ at 24 months indirectly, predominantly through increased systemic inflammation and reduced plasma IGF-1 and CXM concentration at 18 months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juho Luoma
- Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Laura Adubra
- Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Per Ashorn
- Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Department of Paediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Ulla Ashorn
- Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Jaden Bendabenda
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Kathryn G Dewey
- Department of Nutrition, Institute for Global Nutrition, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Lotta Hallamaa
- Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Ryan Coghlan
- Research Center, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Portland, Oregon, USA.,Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - William A Horton
- Research Center, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Portland, Oregon, USA.,Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Heikki Hyöty
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.,Fimlab Ltd., Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Emma Kortekangas
- Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Kirsi-Maarit Lehto
- Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Kenneth Maleta
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Andrew Matchado
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Minyanga Nkhoma
- Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Sami Oikarinen
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Seppo Parkkila
- Fimlab Ltd., Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.,Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Sami Purmonen
- Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Yue-Mei Fan
- Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
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5
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Francis EC, Li M, Hinkle SN, Chen J, Wu J, Zhu Y, Cao H, Tsai MY, Chen L, Zhang C. Maternal Proinflammatory Adipokines Throughout Pregnancy and Neonatal Size and Body Composition: A Prospective Study. Curr Dev Nutr 2021; 5:nzab113. [PMID: 34693193 PMCID: PMC8528696 DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzab113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increased maternal adiposity and inflammation have impacts on fetal growth. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate the associations of 3 proinflammatory adipokines in pregnancy with neonatal anthropometry. METHODS In a sample of 321 US pregnant women from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Fetal Growth Studies-Singleton Cohort (NCT00912132), plasma IL-6, fatty acid binding protein-4 (FABP4), and chemerin were measured in plasma samples collected at 10-14, 15-26, 23-31, and 33-39 weeks of gestation. Generalized linear models were used to estimate associations of adipokines with neonatal weight, thigh, and crown-heel length, and skinfolds at birth. Models adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, education, nulliparity, prepregnancy BMI, and weeks of gestation at blood collection. RESULTS At each time point, higher IL-6 was associated with lower neonatal birthweight and thigh length. At 15-26 weeks of gestation, a 1 SD pg/mL increase in IL-6 was associated with -84.46 g lower neonatal birthweight (95% CI: -150.70, -18.22), -0.17 cm shorter thigh length (95% CI: -0.27, -0.07), -0.43 cm shorter crown-heel length (95% CI: -0.75, -0.10), and -0.75 mm smaller sum of skinfolds (95% CI: -1.19, -0.31), with similar associations at 23-31 and 33-39 weeks of gestation. There were no associations of FABP4 and chemerin with neonatal anthropometry. CONCLUSIONS Starting as early as 15 weeks of gestation, higher maternal IL-6 concentrations in pregnancy were associated with lower neonatal birthweight, thigh and crown-heel length, and skinfolds. These data provide insight into the relevance of maternal inflammatory markers with neonatal anthropometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen C Francis
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Division of Intramural Population Health Research Epidemiology Branch, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes Center, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Mengying Li
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Division of Intramural Population Health Research Epidemiology Branch, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Stefanie N Hinkle
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Division of Intramural Population Health Research Epidemiology Branch, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jinbo Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jing Wu
- Glotech Inc., Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yeyi Zhu
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Division of Research, Oakland, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Haiming Cao
- Cardiovascular Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Michael Y Tsai
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Liwei Chen
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Cuilin Zhang
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Division of Intramural Population Health Research Epidemiology Branch, Bethesda, MD, USA
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6
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Saville NM, Cortina-Borja M, De Stavola BL, Pomeroy E, Marphatia A, Reid A, Manandhar DS, Wells JCK. Comprehensive analysis of the association of seasonal variability with maternal and neonatal nutrition in lowland Nepal. Public Health Nutr 2021; 25:1-16. [PMID: 34420531 PMCID: PMC9991647 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980021003633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To provide a comprehensive seasonal analysis of pregnant mothers' eating behaviour and maternal/newborn nutritional status in an undernourished population from lowland rural Nepal, where weather patterns, agricultural labour, food availability and disease prevalence vary seasonally. DESIGN Secondary analysis of cluster-randomised Low Birth Weight South Asia Trial data, applying cosinor analysis to predict seasonal patterns. OUTCOMES Maternal mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), BMI, dietary diversity, meals per day, eating down and food aversion in pregnancy (≥31 weeks' gestation) and neonatal z-scores of length-for-age (LAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ) and head circumference-for-age (HCAZ) and weight-for-length (WLZ). SETTING Rural areas of Dhanusha and Mahottari districts in plains of Nepal. PARTICIPANTS 2831 mothers aged 13-50 and 3330 neonates. RESULTS We found seasonal patterns in newborn anthropometry and pregnant mothers' anthropometry, meal frequency, dietary diversity, food aversion and eating down. Seasonality in intake varied by food group. Offspring anthropometry broadly tracked mothers'. Annual amplitudes in mothers' MUAC and BMI were 0·27 kg/m2 and 0·22 cm, with peaks post-harvest and nadirs in October when food insecurity peaked. Annual LAZ, WAZ and WLZ amplitudes were 0·125, 0·159 and 0·411 z-scores, respectively. Neonates were the shortest but least thin (higher WLZ) in winter (December/January). In the hot season, WLZ was the lowest (May/June) while LAZ was the highest (March and August). HCAZ did not vary significantly. Food aversion and eating down peaked pre-monsoon (April/May). CONCLUSIONS Our analyses revealed complex seasonal patterns in maternal nutrition and neonatal size. Seasonality should be accounted for when designing and evaluating public heath nutrition interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi M Saville
- Institute for Global Health (IGH), University College London (UCL), London, UK
| | - Mario Cortina-Borja
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (ICH), University College London (UCL), London, UK
| | - Bianca L De Stavola
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (ICH), University College London (UCL), London, UK
| | - Emma Pomeroy
- Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Alice Reid
- Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Jonathan CK Wells
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (ICH), University College London (UCL), London, UK
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7
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Abreu AM, Young RR, Buchanan A, Lofgren IE, Okronipa HET, Lartey A, Ashorn P, Adu-Afarwuah S, Dewey KG, Oaks BM. Maternal Blood Pressure in Relation to Prenatal Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplementation and Adverse Birth Outcomes in a Ghanaian Cohort: A Randomized Controlled Trial and Cohort Analysis. J Nutr 2021; 151:1637-1645. [PMID: 33704494 PMCID: PMC8169808 DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxab018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is unknown whether prenatal lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNSs) affect blood pressure (BP). Associations between hypertension and birth outcomes using recently updated BP cutoffs are undetermined. OBJECTIVES We aimed to assess the impact of LNSs on maternal hypertension and associations between hypertension and birth outcomes. METHODS Pregnant Ghanaian women at ≤20 weeks of gestation (n = 1320) were randomly assigned to receive daily 1) iron and folic acid (IFA), 2) multiple micronutrients (MMN), or 3) LNSs until delivery. BP was measured at enrollment and 36 weeks of gestation. We analyzed the effect of LNSs on BP using ANOVA and associations between hypertension [systolic BP (SBP) ≥130 mm Hg or diastolic BP (DBP) ≥80 mm Hg] and birth outcomes by linear and logistic regressions. RESULTS Mean ± SD SBP and DBP were 110 ± 11 and 63 ± 8 mm Hg at 36 weeks of gestation and did not differ by supplementation group (SBP, P > 0.05; DBP, P > 0.05). At enrollment, higher DBP was associated with lower birth weight and shorter gestation; women with high DBP had greater risk of low birth weight (LBW) [risk ratio (RR): 2.58; 95% CI: 1.09, 6.08] and preterm birth (PTB) (RR: 3.30; 95% CI: 1.47, 7.40). At 36 weeks of gestation, higher SBP was associated with lower birth weight, length, and head circumference and shorter gestation; higher DBP was associated with lower birth weight and length; and women with high DBP had greater risk of LBW (RR: 3.39; 95% CI: 1.32, 8.69). Neither high SBP nor hypertension were associated with birth outcomes at either time point. CONCLUSIONS Daily provision of LNSs does not affect maternal hypertension, compared with IFA and MMN. Higher SBP and DBP are associated with a shorter gestation and smaller birth size; however, only high DBP is associated with LBW and PTB. The new BP cutoffs may help identify pregnancies at risk of adverse birth outcomes.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00970866.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa M Abreu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Rebecca R Young
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Ashley Buchanan
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Ingrid E Lofgren
- Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | | | - Anna Lartey
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Per Ashorn
- Center for Child Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Seth Adu-Afarwuah
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Kathryn G Dewey
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Brietta M Oaks
- Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
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8
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Chua CLL, Hasang W, Rogerson SJ, Teo A. Poor Birth Outcomes in Malaria in Pregnancy: Recent Insights Into Mechanisms and Prevention Approaches. Front Immunol 2021; 12:621382. [PMID: 33790894 PMCID: PMC8005559 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.621382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnant women in malaria-endemic regions are susceptible to malaria in pregnancy, which has adverse consequences on birth outcomes, including having small for gestational age and preterm babies. These babies are likely to have low birthweights, which predisposes to infant mortality and lifelong morbidities. During malaria in pregnancy, Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes express a unique variant surface antigen, VAR2CSA, that mediates sequestration in the placenta. This process may initiate a range of host responses that contribute to placental inflammation and dysregulated placental development, which affects placental vasculogenesis, angiogenesis and nutrient transport. Collectively, these result in the impairment of placental functions, affecting fetal development. In this review, we provide an overview of malaria in pregnancy and the different pathological pathways leading to malaria in pregnancy-associated low birthweight. We also discuss current prevention and management strategies for malaria in pregnancy, and some potential therapeutic interventions that may improve birth outcomes. Lastly, we outline some priorities for future research that could bring us one step closer to reducing this health burden.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wina Hasang
- Department of Medicine at Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Stephen J Rogerson
- Department of Medicine at Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew Teo
- Department of Medicine at Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
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9
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Hambidge KM, Bann CM, McClure EM, Westcott JE, Garcés A, Figueroa L, Goudar SS, Dhaded SM, Pasha O, Ali SA, Derman RJ, Goldenberg RL, Koso-Thomas M, Somannavar MS, Herekar V, Khan U, Krebs NF. Maternal Characteristics Affect Fetal Growth Response in the Women First Preconception Nutrition Trial. Nutrients 2019; 11:E2534. [PMID: 31640153 PMCID: PMC6835723 DOI: 10.3390/nu11102534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Revised: 09/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective of this secondary analysis was to identify maternal characteristics that modified the effect of maternal supplements on newborn size. Participants included 1465 maternal-newborn dyads in Guatemala, India, and Pakistan. Supplementation commenced before conception (Arm 1) or late 1st trimester (Arm 2); Arm 3 received usual care. Characteristics included body mass index (BMI), stature, anemia, age, education, socio-economic status (SES), parity, and newborn sex. Newborn outcomes were z-scores for length (LAZ), weight (WAZ), and weight to length ratio-for-age (WLRAZ). Mixed-effect regression models included treatment arm, effect modifier, and arm * effect modifier interaction as predictors, controlling for site, characteristics, and sex. Parity (para-0 vs. para ≥1), anemia (anemia/no anemia), and sex were significant effect modifiers. Effect size (95% CI) for Arm 1 vs. 3 was larger for para-0 vs. ≥1 for all outcomes (LAZ 0.56 (0.28, 0.84, p < 0.001); WAZ 0.45 (0.20, 0.07, p < 0.001); WLRAZ 0.52 (0.17, 0.88, p < 0.01) but only length for Arm 2 vs. 3. Corresponding effects for para ≥1 were >0.02. Arm 3 z-scores were all very low for para-0, but not para ≥1. Para-0 and anemia effect sizes for Arm 1 were > Arm 2 for WAZ and WLRAZ, but not LAZ. Arm 1 and 2 had higher WAZ for newborn boys vs. girls. Maternal nulliparity and anemia were associated with impaired fetal growth that was substantially improved by nutrition intervention, especially when commenced prior to conception.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Michael Hambidge
- Section of Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
| | | | | | - Jamie E Westcott
- Section of Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
| | - Ana Garcés
- INCAP (Instituto de Nutrición de Centro América y Panamá), Guatemala City 01011, Guatemala.
| | - Lester Figueroa
- INCAP (Instituto de Nutrición de Centro América y Panamá), Guatemala City 01011, Guatemala.
| | - Shivaprasad S Goudar
- KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research's Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belagavi, Karnataka 590010, India.
| | - Sangappa M Dhaded
- KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research's Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belagavi, Karnataka 590010, India.
| | - Omrana Pasha
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi 74800, Pakistan.
| | - Sumera A Ali
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi 74800, Pakistan.
| | - Richard J Derman
- Department of Global Affairs, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
| | - Robert L Goldenberg
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
| | | | - Manjunath S Somannavar
- KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research's Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belagavi, Karnataka 590010, India.
| | - Veena Herekar
- KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research's Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belagavi, Karnataka 590010, India.
| | - Umber Khan
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi 74800, Pakistan.
| | - Nancy F Krebs
- Section of Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
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10
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Georgieff MK, Krebs NF, Cusick SE. The Benefits and Risks of Iron Supplementation in Pregnancy and Childhood. Annu Rev Nutr 2019; 39:121-146. [PMID: 31091416 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-nutr-082018-124213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Iron deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency in the world and disproportionately affects pregnant women and young children. Iron deficiency has negative effects on pregnancy outcomes in women and on immune function and neurodevelopment in children. Iron supplementation programs have been successful in reducing this health burden. However, iron supplementation of iron-sufficient individuals is likely not necessary and may carry health risks for iron-sufficient and potentially some iron-deficient populations. This review considers the physiology of iron as a nutrient and how this physiology informs decision-making about weighing the benefits and risks of iron supplementation in iron-deficient, iron-sufficient, and iron-overloaded pregnant women and children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael K Georgieff
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55454, USA; ,
| | - Nancy F Krebs
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA;
| | - Sarah E Cusick
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55454, USA; ,
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11
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Newman KL, Gustafson K, Englund JA, Magaret A, Khatry S, LeClerq SC, Tielsch JM, Katz J, Chu HY. Effect of Diarrheal Illness During Pregnancy on Adverse Birth Outcomes in Nepal. Open Forum Infect Dis 2019; 6:ofz011. [PMID: 30793004 PMCID: PMC6368846 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofz011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Adverse birth outcomes, including low birthweight, small for gestational age (SGA), and preterm birth, contribute to 60%–80% of infant mortality worldwide. Little published data exist on the association between diarrhea during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes. Methods Data were used from 2 community-based, prospective randomized trials of maternal influenza immunization during pregnancy conducted in rural Nepal from 2011 to 2014. Diarrheal illnesses were identified through longitudinal household-based weekly symptom surveillance. Diarrhea episodes were defined as at least 3 watery bowel movements per day for 1 or more days with 7 diarrhea-free days between episodes. The Poisson and log-binomial regression were performed to evaluate baseline characteristics and association between diarrhea during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes. Results A total of 527 of 3693 women in the study (14.3%) experienced diarrhea during pregnancy. Women with diarrhea had a median of 1 episode of diarrhea (interquartile range [IQR], 1–2 episodes) and 2 cumulative days of diarrhea (IQR, 1–3 days). Of women with diarrhea, 85 (16.1%) sought medical care. In crude and adjusted analyses, women with diarrhea during pregnancy were more likely to have SGA infants (42.6% vs 36.8%; adjusted risk ratio = 1.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–1.36; P = .005). Birthweight and preterm birth incidence did not substantially differ between women with diarrhea during pregnancy and those without. Conclusions Diarrheal illness during pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of SGA infants in this rural South Asian population. Interventions to reduce the burden of diarrheal illness during pregnancy may have an impact on SGA births in resource-limited settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira L Newman
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
| | | | - Janet A Englund
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle.,Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
| | - Amalia Magaret
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Subarna Khatry
- Nepal Neonatal Intervention Project-Sarlahi, Nepal.,Department of Global Health, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Steven C LeClerq
- Nepal Neonatal Intervention Project-Sarlahi, Nepal.,Department of Global Health, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - James M Tielsch
- Department of Global Health, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Joanne Katz
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Helen Y Chu
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
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12
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Ashorn P, Hallamaa L, Allen LH, Ashorn U, Chandrasiri U, Deitchler M, Doyle R, Harjunmaa U, Jorgensen JM, Kamiza S, Klein N, Maleta K, Nkhoma M, Oaks BM, Poelman B, Rogerson SJ, Stewart CP, Zeilani M, Dewey KG. Co-causation of reduced newborn size by maternal undernutrition, infections, and inflammation. MATERNAL AND CHILD NUTRITION 2018; 14:e12585. [PMID: 29316198 PMCID: PMC6055652 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.12585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Revised: 11/24/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
More than 20 million babies are born with low birthweight annually. Small newborns have an increased risk for mortality, growth failure, and other adverse outcomes. Numerous antenatal risk factors for small newborn size have been identified, but individual interventions addressing them have not markedly improved the health outcomes of interest. We tested a hypothesis that in low‐income settings, newborn size is influenced jointly by multiple maternal exposures and characterized pathways associating these exposures with newborn size. This was a prospective cohort study of pregnant women and their offspring nested in an intervention trial in rural Malawi. We collected information on maternal and placental characteristics and used regression analyses, structural equation modelling, and random forest models to build pathway maps for direct and indirect associations between these characteristics and newborn weight‐for‐age Z‐score and length‐for‐age Z‐score. We used multiple imputation to infer values for any missing data. Among 1,179 pregnant women and their babies, newborn weight‐for‐age Z‐score was directly predicted by maternal primiparity, body mass index, and plasma alpha‐1‐acid glycoprotein concentration before 20 weeks of gestation, gestational weight gain, duration of pregnancy, placental weight, and newborn length‐for‐age Z‐score (p < .05). The latter 5 variables were interconnected and were predicted by several more distal determinants. In low‐income conditions like rural Malawi, maternal infections, inflammation, nutrition, and certain constitutional factors jointly influence newborn size. Because of this complex network, comprehensive interventions that concurrently address multiple adverse exposures are more likely to increase mean newborn size than focused interventions targeting only maternal nutrition or specific infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Per Ashorn
- Centre for Child Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.,Department of Paediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Lotta Hallamaa
- Centre for Child Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Lindsay H Allen
- USDA Agricultural Research Service Western Human Nutrition Research Center, Davis, California, USA.,Program in International and Community Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Ulla Ashorn
- Centre for Child Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Upeksha Chandrasiri
- Department of Medicine at Peter Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Megan Deitchler
- Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance III Project, Washington DC, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Ronan Doyle
- Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ulla Harjunmaa
- Centre for Child Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Josh M Jorgensen
- Program in International and Community Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Steve Kamiza
- Faculty of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Nigel Klein
- Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Kenneth Maleta
- Faculty of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Minyanga Nkhoma
- Faculty of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Brietta M Oaks
- Program in International and Community Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Basho Poelman
- Centre for Child Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Stephen J Rogerson
- Department of Medicine at Peter Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christine P Stewart
- Program in International and Community Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Mamane Zeilani
- External Research and Nutrition, Nutriset S.A.S, Malaunay, France
| | - Kathryn G Dewey
- Program in International and Community Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
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13
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Saso A, Blyuss O, Munblit D, Faal A, Moore SE, Le Doare K. Breast Milk Cytokines and Early Growth in Gambian Infants. Front Pediatr 2018; 6:414. [PMID: 30705878 PMCID: PMC6344434 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2018.00414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Breast milk provides nutrition for infants but also delivers other bioactive factors that have key protective and developmental benefits. In particular, cytokines are thought to play a role in immunomodulation, although little is known about their impact on health outcomes in early life. Objective: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the relationship between cytokines in breast milk and infant growth outcomes in a low-income setting. Methods: 100 mother-infant pairs were followed up to 2-3 months postpartum as part of a prospective longitudinal cohort study in urban Gambia, West Africa. The concentrations of 9 pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IFN-γ, TNFα), IGF-1 and TGFβ2 were measured in colostrum within 12 h of birth and in breast milk at the final visit, scheduled between day 60 and 89 postpartum. Infant weight was recorded and converted to weight-for-age Z-scores (WAZ) at the same time points. Growth outcomes were defined in our study as (a) change in WAZ between birth and final visit (b) WAZ at final visit. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the ability of colostrum and breast milk cytokine concentrations to predict growth outcomes up to 2-3 months postpartum. Results: Gambian infants demonstrated growth faltering across the first 2-3 months postpartum. There was no significant relationship between cytokines in colostrum and subsequent change in WAZ between birth and the final visit, in either unadjusted or adjusted models. However, cytokines in mature breast milk, TNFα, IFNγ, IL1β, IL2, IL4, and IL6, were weak negative predictors of WAZ scores at the final visit, in unadjusted models (p < 0.05). When adjusted for maternal anemia (as a proxy for maternal nutrition), TNFα and IL6 remained significant predictors (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Variations in breast milk cytokine levels do not play a substantial role in the growth faltering observed across early infancy. The potential contribution of other factors, such as micronutrients, hormones or human milk oligosaccharides, must be elucidated. Cytokine levels in mature breast milk were weakly predictive of poor infant growth, possibly reflecting a "read-out" of suboptimal maternal health and nutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Saso
- Department of Paediatrics, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.,MRC Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, Gambia
| | - Oleg Blyuss
- Centre for Cancer Prevention, Wolfson Institute of Preventative Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Women's Cancer, Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,N. I. Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Daniel Munblit
- Department of Paediatrics, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.,Solov'ev Research and Clinical Center for Neuropsychiatry, Moscow, Russia.,Department of Paediatrics, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Amadou Faal
- MRC Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, Gambia
| | - Sophie E Moore
- MRC Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, Gambia.,Department of Women and Children's Health, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kirsty Le Doare
- Centre for International Child Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.,West Africa Global Health Alliance, Banjul, Gambia.,Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, St George's University of London, London, United Kingdom
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