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Luo H, Geng J, Zeiler M, Nieckula E, Sandalinas F, Williams A, Young MF, Suchdev PS. A Practical Guide to Adjust Micronutrient Biomarkers for Inflammation Using the BRINDA Method. J Nutr 2023; 153:1265-1272. [PMID: 36792034 DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The Biomarkers Reflecting Inflammation and Nutritional Determinants of Anemia (BRINDA) research group was formed over a decade ago to improve the interpretation of micronutrient biomarkers in settings with inflammation. The BRINDA inflammation adjustment method uses regression correction to adjust for the confounding effects of inflammation on select micronutrient biomarkers and has provided important insights to micronutrient research, policy, and programming. However, users may face challenges when applying the BRINDA inflammation adjustment methods to their own data due to varying guidance on the adjustment approach for different biomarkers and the need to develop statistical programming to conduct these analyses. This may result in lost opportunities to have results of micronutrient data readily available during critical decision-making periods. Our research objectives are to 1) provide an all-in-one summary of the BRINDA method in adjusting multiple micronutrient biomarkers for inflammation, 2) evaluate whether malaria as a binary variable should be included in the BRINDA inflammation adjustment method, and 3) present standardized and user-friendly BRINDA adjustment R package and SAS macro. This paper serves as a practical guidebook for the BRINDA inflammation adjustment approach and aids users to use the BRINDA R package and SAS to streamline their analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanqi Luo
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States.
| | - Jiaxi Geng
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Madeleine Zeiler
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Emily Nieckula
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Fanny Sandalinas
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Melissa F Young
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Parminder S Suchdev
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Sandalinas F, Filteau S, Joy EJM, Segovia de la Revilla L, MacDougall A, Hopkins H. Measuring the impact of malaria infection on indicators of iron and vitamin A status: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Br J Nutr 2023; 129:87-103. [PMID: 35260210 PMCID: PMC9816655 DOI: 10.1017/s0007114522000757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Inflammation and infections such as malaria affect estimates of micronutrient status. Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus and the Cochrane library were searched to identify studies reporting mean concentrations of ferritin, hepcidin, retinol or retinol binding protein in individuals with asymptomatic or clinical malaria and healthy controls. Study quality was assessed using the US National Institute of Health tool. Random effects meta-analyses were used to generate summary mean differences. In total, forty-four studies were included. Mean ferritin concentrations were elevated by: 28·2 µg/l (95 % CI 15·6, 40·9) in children with asymptomatic malaria; 28·5 µg/l (95 % CI 8·1, 48·8) in adults with asymptomatic malaria; and 366 µg/l (95 % CI 162, 570) in children with clinical malaria compared with individuals without malaria infection. Mean hepcidin concentrations were elevated by 1·52 nmol/l (95 % CI 0·92, 2·11) in children with asymptomatic malaria. Mean retinol concentrations were reduced by: 0·11 µmol/l (95 % CI -0·22, -0·01) in children with asymptomatic malaria; 0·43 µmol/l (95 % CI -0·71, -0·16) in children with clinical malaria and 0·73 µmol/l (95 % CI -1·11, -0·36) in adults with clinical malaria. Most of these results were stable in sensitivity analyses. In children with clinical malaria and pregnant women, difference in ferritin concentrations were greater in areas with higher transmission intensity. We conclude that biomarkers of iron and vitamin A status should be statistically adjusted for malaria and the severity of infection. Several studies analysing asymptomatic infections reported elevated ferritin concentrations without noticeable elevation of inflammation markers, indicating a need to adjust for malaria status in addition to inflammation adjustments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny Sandalinas
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Suzanne Filteau
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Edward J. M. Joy
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Amy MacDougall
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Heidi Hopkins
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Likoswe BH, Lark RM, Phuka J, Maleta K, Joy E, Lowe NM. The potential of spot urine as a biomarker for zinc assessment in Malawian children and adults. Front Nutr 2022; 9:890209. [PMID: 35938137 PMCID: PMC9355503 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.890209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Population-level assessment of zinc deficiency remains a challenge due to the lack of suitable biomarkers. Spot urinary zinc concentration (UZC) has the potential to provide information on population zinc status in large-scale surveys, but there is no established cut-off point indicating deficiency. A strong correlation between this biomarker and an established biomarker such as serum zinc concentration (SZC) in paired samples (i.e., from the same individual), could identify the thresholds indicating zinc deficiency. This study, therefore, aimed to regress spot UZC from school-aged children and women from the Malawi micronutrient survey with paired SZC data using a linear mixed-effects model. The nested variance components indicated no linear relationship between the UZC and SZC data, irrespective of adjustments for inflammation and hydration. Thresholds of urinary zinc excretion that have been suggested by expert panels were applied to the spot UZC data, as a post-hoc analysis. The zinc deficiency prevalence estimates derived from these suggested thresholds were not similar to the estimates from the SZC data, and further research is required to understand whether spot UZC can still provide useful information in population zinc assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blessings H. Likoswe
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Global and Public Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
- *Correspondence: Blessings H. Likoswe ;
| | - R. Murray Lark
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - John Phuka
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Global and Public Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Kenneth Maleta
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Global and Public Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Edward Joy
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola M. Lowe
- UCLan Research Centre for Global Development, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom
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Unger HW, Bleicher A, Ome-Kaius M, Aitken EH, Rogerson SJ. Associations of maternal iron deficiency with malaria infection in a cohort of pregnant Papua New Guinean women. Malar J 2022; 21:153. [PMID: 35619134 PMCID: PMC9137066 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-022-04177-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Iron deficiency (ID) is common in malaria-endemic settings. Intermittent preventative treatment of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp) and iron supplementation are core components of antenatal care in endemic regions to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes. ID has been associated with reduced risk of malaria infection, and correspondingly, iron supplementation with increased risk of malaria infection, in some studies. METHODS A secondary analysis was conducted amongst 1888 pregnant women enrolled in a malaria prevention trial in Papua New Guinea. Maternal ID was defined as inflammation-corrected plasma ferritin levels < 15 μg/L at antenatal enrolment. Malaria burden (Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax) was determined by light microscopy, polymerase chain reaction, and placental histology. Multiple logistic and linear regression analyses explored the relationship of ID or ferritin levels with indicators of malaria infection. Models were fitted with interaction terms to assess for modification of iron-malaria relationships by gravidity or treatment arm. RESULTS Two-thirds (n = 1226) and 13.7% (n = 258) of women had ID and peripheral parasitaemia, respectively, at antenatal enrolment (median gestational age: 22 weeks), and 18.7% (120/1,356) had evidence of malaria infection on placental histology. Overall, ID was associated with reduced odds of peripheral parasitaemia at enrolment (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.50; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.38, 0.66, P < 0.001); peripheral parasitaemia at delivery (aOR 0.68, 95% CI 0.46, 1.00; P = 0.050); and past placental infection (aOR 0.35, 95% CI 0.24, 0.50; P < 0.001). Corresponding increases in the odds of infection were observed with two-fold increases in ferritin levels. There was effect modification of iron-malaria relationships by gravidity. At delivery, ID was associated with reduced odds of peripheral parasitaemia amongst primigravid (AOR 0.44, 95% CI 0.25, 0.76; P = 0.003), but not multigravid women (AOR 1.12, 95% CI 0.61, 2.05; P = 0.720). A two-fold increase in ferritin associated with increased odds of placental blood infection (1.44, 95% CI 1.06, 1.96; P = 0.019) and active placental infection on histology amongst primigravid women only (1.24, 95% CI 1.00, 1.54; P = 0.052). CONCLUSIONS Low maternal ferritin at first antenatal visit was associated with a lower risk of malaria infection during pregnancy, most notably in primigravid women. The mechanisms by which maternal iron stores influence susceptibility to infection with Plasmodium species require further investigation. TRIAL REGISTRATION
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Affiliation(s)
- Holger W Unger
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, NT, Australia
- Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Andie Bleicher
- Department of Medicine (RMH), Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Maria Ome-Kaius
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea
| | - Elizabeth H Aitken
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Stephen J Rogerson
- Department of Medicine (RMH), Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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Davies S, Briand V, Accrombessi M, Fievet N, Le Bot B, Durand S, Agbota G, Yovo E, Vianou B, Sossou D, Martin-Prevel Y, Massougbodji A, Cot M, Glorennec P, Bodeau-Livinec F. Pre-conception serum ferritin concentrations are associated with metal concentrations in blood during pregnancy: A cohort study in Benin. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 202:111629. [PMID: 34242675 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Revised: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Iron deficiency is a common nutritional deficiency that impacts maternal health and fetal development and is also associated with increased uptake of toxic metals. Women in sub-Saharan Africa are highly exposed to both iron deficiency and metals in the environment. As research on the developmental origins of health and disease increasingly shows impacts of pre-conception maternal health on pregnancy and fetal health, these environmental exposures are of concern. OBJECTIVES This study investigated the association between iron status pre-pregnancy and blood metal concentrations in the first trimester of pregnancy with potential implications for iron supplementation. METHODS Pre-conception and first trimester blood samples taken from 262 Beninese women were tested for serum ferritin, inflammation markers, manganese (Mn), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper, zinc, selenium, mercury and arsenic. Associations between serum ferritin adjusted for inflammation and metal concentrations were analyzed using multivariate linear regression. RESULTS Women with iron deficiency before conception (13%) were more likely to remain iron deficient in the first trimester (4%) (adjusted OR = 41.2, 95%CI 6.2; 275.0) even within the context of routine iron supplementation during pregnancy. Lower pre-pregnancy serum ferritin concentrations were significantly related to higher concentrations of Mn, Cd and Pb in the first trimester. Every 1% increase in serum ferritin concentration was associated with a 0.13% decrease in Mn (adjusted β = -0.13, 95%CI -0.18; -0.07), a 0.22% decrease in Cd (adjusted β = -0.22, 95%CI -0.28; -0.15) and a 0.06% decrease in Pb concentration (adjusted β = -0.06, 95%CI -0.12; -0.006). DISCUSSION These results suggest that increasing iron stores prior to pregnancy may prevent excessive uptake of toxic concentrations of the metals Mn, Cd and Pb and argue in favour of testing the effects of iron supplementation prior to pregnancy on metal concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Davies
- Département Méthodes Quantitatives en Santé Publique (METIS), Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique (EHESP), F-35000, Rennes, France; Université de Paris, Center of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics/CRESS, INSERM, INRA, Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (EPOPé)-UMR1153, F-75004, Paris, France.
| | - Valérie Briand
- Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement (IRD), University of Bordeaux, Inserm, UMR 1219, 146 rue Léo-Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux, Cedex, France; Université de Paris, MERIT, IRD, 75006, Paris, France.
| | - Manfred Accrombessi
- Institut de Recherche Clinique du Benin (IRCB), 04 BP1114, Abomey-Calavi, Benin; Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Disease Control Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Nadine Fievet
- Institut de Recherche Clinique du Benin (IRCB), 04 BP1114, Abomey-Calavi, Benin; Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Paris Descartes Université, 75006, Paris, France.
| | - Barbara Le Bot
- Ecole des Hautes Études en Santé Publique (EHESP), Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale (Inserm), Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail (Irset)-UMR_S 1085, University of Rennes, F-35000, Rennes, France.
| | - Séverine Durand
- Ecole des Hautes Études en Santé Publique (EHESP), Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale (Inserm), Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail (Irset)-UMR_S 1085, University of Rennes, F-35000, Rennes, France.
| | - Gino Agbota
- Institut de Recherche Clinique du Benin (IRCB), 04 BP1114, Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
| | - Emmanuel Yovo
- Institut de Recherche Clinique du Benin (IRCB), 04 BP1114, Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
| | - Bertin Vianou
- Institut de Recherche Clinique du Benin (IRCB), 04 BP1114, Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
| | - Darius Sossou
- Institut de Recherche Clinique du Benin (IRCB), 04 BP1114, Abomey-Calavi, Benin.
| | - Yves Martin-Prevel
- Nutripass Research Unit, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), University of Montpellier, SupAgro, Montpellier, France.
| | | | - Michel Cot
- Université de Paris, MERIT, IRD, 75006, Paris, France.
| | - Philippe Glorennec
- Ecole des Hautes Études en Santé Publique (EHESP), Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale (Inserm), Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail (Irset)-UMR_S 1085, University of Rennes, F-35000, Rennes, France.
| | - Florence Bodeau-Livinec
- Département Méthodes Quantitatives en Santé Publique (METIS), Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique (EHESP), F-35000, Rennes, France; Université de Paris, Center of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics/CRESS, INSERM, INRA, Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (EPOPé)-UMR1153, F-75004, Paris, France.
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Unger HW, Laurita Longo V, Bleicher A, Ome-Kaius M, Karl S, Simpson JA, Karahalios A, Aitken EH, Rogerson SJ. The relationship between markers of antenatal iron stores and birth outcomes differs by malaria prevention regimen-a prospective cohort study. BMC Med 2021; 19:236. [PMID: 34607575 PMCID: PMC8491429 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-021-02114-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Iron deficiency (ID) has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, maternal anaemia, and altered susceptibility to infection. In Papua New Guinea (PNG), monthly treatment with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine plus azithromycin (SPAZ) prevented low birthweight (LBW; <2500 g) through a combination of anti-malarial and non-malarial effects when compared to a single treatment with SP plus chloroquine (SPCQ) at first antenatal visit. We assessed the relationship between ID and adverse birth outcomes in women receiving SPAZ or SPCQ, and the mediating effects of malaria infection and haemoglobin levels during pregnancy. METHODS Plasma ferritin levels measured at antenatal enrolment in a cohort of 1892 women were adjusted for concomitant inflammation using C-reactive protein and α-1-acid glycoprotein. Associations of ID (defined as ferritin <15 μg/L) or ferritin levels with birth outcomes (birthweight, LBW, preterm birth, small-for-gestational-age birthweight [SGA]) were determined using linear or logistic regression analysis, as appropriate. Mediation analysis assessed the degree of mediation of ID-birth outcome relationships by malaria infection or haemoglobin levels. RESULTS At first antenatal visit (median gestational age, 22 weeks), 1256 women (66.4%) had ID. Overall, ID or ferritin levels at first antenatal visit were not associated with birth outcomes. There was effect modification by treatment arm. Amongst SPCQ recipients, ID was associated with a 81-g higher mean birthweight (95% confidence interval [CI] 10, 152; P = 0.025), and a twofold increase in ferritin levels was associated with increased odds of SGA (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.25; 95% CI 1.06, 1.46; P = 0.007). By contrast, amongst SPAZ recipients, a twofold increase in ferritin was associated with reduced odds of LBW (aOR 0.80; 95% CI 0.67, 0.94; P = 0.009). Mediation analyses suggested that malaria infection or haemoglobin levels during pregnancy do not substantially mediate the association of ID with birth outcomes amongst SPCQ recipients. CONCLUSIONS Improved antenatal iron stores do not confer a benefit for the prevention of adverse birth outcomes in the context of malaria chemoprevention strategies that lack the non-malarial properties of monthly SPAZ. Research to determine the mechanisms by which ID protects from suboptimal foetal growth is needed to guide the design of new malaria prevention strategies and to inform iron supplementation policy in malaria-endemic settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01136850 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Holger W Unger
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.,Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.,Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Valentina Laurita Longo
- Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, San Pietro-Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Andie Bleicher
- Department of Medicine (RMH), Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Maria Ome-Kaius
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea
| | - Stephan Karl
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia
| | - Julie A Simpson
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Amalia Karahalios
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Elizabeth H Aitken
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Stephen J Rogerson
- Department of Medicine (RMH), Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. .,Department of Infectious Diseases, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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Nsereko E, Uwase A, Muvunyi CM, Rulisa S, Ntirushwa D, Moreland P, Corwin EJ, Santos N, Lin J, Chen JL, Nzayirambaho M, Wojcicki JM. Association between micronutrients and maternal leukocyte telomere length in early pregnancy in Rwanda. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2020; 20:692. [PMID: 33187486 PMCID: PMC7664098 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-020-03330-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to environmental stressors can lead to shorter leukocyte telomere length and increase the risk of chronic diseases. Preservation of leukocyte telomere length by reducing oxidative stress exposure and reinforcing immunity may be a mechanism by which nutritional factors delay or prevent chronic disease development. METHODS Healthy pregnant women (aged 18-45 years) at 9-15 weeks of gestation living in Gasabo District, Kigali, Rwanda, were recruited from 10 health centers for a prospective, longitudinal study from September to October 2017 to determine possible associations between nutrition health, infectious disease and leukocyte telomere length. Anthropometric and laboratory measurements were performed using standard procedures; sociodemographic parameters and health histories were assessed via surveys, and leukocyte telomere length was assessed using quantitative PCR expressed as the ratio of a telomeric product to a single-copy gene product (T/S). RESULTS Mean gestational age of participants (n = 297) at enrollment was 13.04 ± 3.50 weeks, age was 28.16 ± 6.10 years and leukocyte telomere length was 1.16 ± 0.22 (T/S). Younger age; no schooling vs. primary schooling; and lower levels of ferritin, soluble transferrin receptors and retinol-binding protein were independent predictors of longer telomere length in multivariable models. CONCLUSIONS Leukocyte telomere length is an indicator of biological aging in pregnant Rwandan women. Maternal micronutrient status, specifically lower ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor levels, and retinol-binding protein levels were associated with longer maternal telomere length in contrast with some studies from North America and Europe. There were no associations between inflammation and infectious disease status and maternal leukocyte telomere length. Further studies are needed to enhance our understanding of the interplay between maternal nutritional status and infectious disease in relation to leukocyte telomere length in developing countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Etienne Nsereko
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences School of Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, P.O. Box: 3538, Kigali, Rwanda.
| | - Aline Uwase
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences School of Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, P.O. Box: 3538, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Claude Mambo Muvunyi
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences School of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Rwanda, P.O. Box: 3538, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Stephen Rulisa
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences School of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Rwanda, P.O. Box: 3538, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - David Ntirushwa
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences School of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Rwanda, P.O. Box: 3538, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Patricia Moreland
- Emory University, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Nicole Santos
- University of California San Francisco, Institute for Global Health Sciences, San Francisco, USA
| | - Jue Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - Jyu-Lin Chen
- Departmentof Family Health Care Nursing, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - Manasse Nzayirambaho
- University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences School of Public Health, P.O. Box: 3538, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Janet M Wojcicki
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, 550 16th Street, San Francisco, CA, 941558, USA.
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8
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Gebremedhin S. Adjusting serum zinc concentration for inflammation based on the data of Malawian preschool children and women of reproductive age. Nutrition 2020; 79-80:110841. [PMID: 32574846 DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2020.110841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Serum zinc negatively reacts to inflammation yet to our knowledge only a few studies have attempted to adjust it for inflammation. The aim of this study, based on the data of Malawi Micronutrient Survey, was to correct zinc concentration for inflammation in preschool children (n = 1081) and women of reproductive age (n = 799) and to evaluate the effects of the adjustment on the prevalence of zinc deficiency (ZD). METHODS Based on C-reactive protein (CRP) and α-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), inflammation status was grouped into four categories: no inflammation, incubation, early convalescence, and late convalescence. The association between zinc and inflammation was examined using linear regression analysis and correction was made by six approaches: exclusion, internal correction factor, and four regression adjustments. RESULTS The unadjusted prevalence of ZD was 58.9% in children and 62% in women. Inflammation was observed in 57.6% of children and 17.1% of women. Zinc demonstrated negative correlations with inflammation markers (P < 0.05). Among children, zinc showed marginally insignificant (P = 0.072) decline during incubation (β= -8.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], -17.28 to 0.78) and significant decline during early convalescence inflammation (β= -4.92; 95% CI, -7.00 to -2.31). Among women, significant change was only observed in late convalescence inflammation (β= -4.10; 95% CI, -8.06 to -0.14). However, all the corrections resulted in modest decline in the prevalence of ZD (1.4-2.1 and 0-2.6 percentage points in children and women). CONCLUSIONS The study observed statistically significant negative correlations between serum zinc concentration and inflammation markers (AGP and CRP). However, correction of serum zinc for inflammation using multiple options including exclusion, internal correction factor, and regression adjustment resulted in very marginal changes in the prevalence of ZD. Although inflammation adjustment may enable more precise estimation of ZD, it only resulted in modest changes in the actual prevalence of ZD in Malawi.
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Likoswe BH, Phiri FP, Broadley MR, Joy EJM, Patson N, Maleta KM, Phuka JC. Inflammation Adjustment by Two Methods Decreases the Estimated Prevalence of Zinc Deficiency in Malawi. Nutrients 2020; 12:E1563. [PMID: 32471229 PMCID: PMC7352807 DOI: 10.3390/nu12061563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Serum zinc concentration (SZC) is used widely to assess population-level zinc status. Its concentration decreases during inflammatory responses, which can affect the interpretation of the results. This study aimed to re-estimate the prevalence of zinc deficiency in Malawi based on the 2015-2016 Malawi Micronutrient Survey (MNS) data, by adjusting SZC measures with markers of inflammation. SZC and inflammation data from 2760 participants were analysed. Adjustments were made using: (1) The Internal Correction Factor (ICF) method which used geometric means, and (2) The Biomarkers Reflecting Inflammation and Nutritional Determinants of Anemia (BRINDA) method, which used linear regression. Mean SZC values increased significantly when adjustments were made by either ICF or BRINDA (p < 0.001). The national prevalence of zinc deficiency decreased from 62% to 59%, after ICF adjustment, and to 52% after BRINDA adjustment. ICF and BRINDA values of SZC were highly correlated (p < 0.001, r = 0.99), but a Bland-Altman plot showed a lack of agreement between the two methods (bias of 2.07 µg/dL). There was no association between the adjusted SZC and stunting, which is a proxy indicator for zinc deficiency. Inflammation adjustment of SZC, using ICF or BRINDA, produces lower estimates of zinc deficiency prevalence, but the lack of agreement between the adjustment methods warrants further research. Furthermore, the lack of association between SZC and stunting highlights the need to explore other biomarkers and proxies of population zinc assessment. This study demonstrates the importance of considering inflammatory confounders when reporting SZC, to ensure accuracy and to support policy decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blessings H. Likoswe
- Department of Public Health, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Private Bag 360, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi; (N.P.); (K.M.M.)
| | - Felix P. Phiri
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK; (F.P.P.); (M.R.B.)
- Department of Nutrition, HIV, and AIDS, Ministry of Health, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
| | - Martin R. Broadley
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK; (F.P.P.); (M.R.B.)
| | - Edward J. M. Joy
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK;
| | - Noel Patson
- Department of Public Health, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Private Bag 360, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi; (N.P.); (K.M.M.)
- School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Kenneth M. Maleta
- Department of Public Health, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Private Bag 360, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi; (N.P.); (K.M.M.)
| | - John C. Phuka
- Department of Public Health, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Private Bag 360, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi; (N.P.); (K.M.M.)
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