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Werner ER, Arnold CD, Caswell BL, Iannotti LL, Maleta KM, Stewart CP. Associations of fish and meat intake with iron and anaemia in Malawian children. Matern Child Nutr 2024; 20:e13622. [PMID: 38217291 PMCID: PMC10981481 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Animal flesh foods are rich in bioavailable iron but infrequently consumed by young children. We aimed to determine whether flesh food intake was associated with iron and anaemia status among 585 Malawian infants enroled in a 6-month egg-feeding trial. The percentage of days of small fish, large fish and meat consumption were assessed through weekly 7-day animal-source food screeners. Grams of intake were assessed through 24-h recalls conducted at 6-9, 9-12 and 12-15 months of age. Plasma ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) and haemoglobin concentrations were measured at 6-9 and 12-15 months of age. Iron biomarkers were adjusted for inflammation during analysis. At enrolment, each flesh food category was consumed by <5% of children in the past 24 h. Over the next 6 months, small fish, large fish and meat were consumed on 25%, 8% and 6% of days, respectively, with mean usual intakes of <5 g/day. More frequent small fish consumption was associated with lower sTfR (geometric mean ratio [95% CI]: 0.98 mg/L [0.96, 1.00] per 10 percentage point difference) but not ferritin (1.03 µg/L [0.98, 1.07]) or haemoglobin (1.01 g/dL [1.00, 1.01]). Large fish consumption was associated with higher anaemia (prevalence ratio [95% CI]: 1.09 [1.01, 1.19]) and lower iron deficiency (0.96 [0.93, 1.00]) prevalence. Gram intakes of flesh food categories were not associated with any iron or anaemia indicators. Small fish were a primary contributor to flesh food intake in this cohort of Malawian children, although usual portions were small. Fish was associated with modest improvements to iron status, but meat was too infrequent to be associated with anaemia and iron deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Rochelle Werner
- Institute for Global NutritionUniversity of California, DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public HealthEmory UniversityAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Charles D. Arnold
- Institute for Global NutritionUniversity of California, DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Bess L. Caswell
- Institute for Global NutritionUniversity of California, DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
- U.S. Department of AgricultureWestern Human Nutrition Research CenterDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Lora L. Iannotti
- E3 Nutrition LabWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Kenneth M. Maleta
- School of Global and Public HealthKamuzu University of Health SciencesBlantyreMalawi
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Bragg MG, Prado EL, Caswell BL, Arnold CD, George M, Oakes LM, Beckner AG, DeBolt MC, Bennett BJ, Maleta KM, Stewart CP. The association between plasma choline, growth and neurodevelopment among Malawian children aged 6-15 months enroled in an egg intervention trial. Matern Child Nutr 2023; 19:e13471. [PMID: 36567549 PMCID: PMC10019050 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Choline is an essential micronutrient that may influence growth and development; however, few studies have examined postnatal choline status and children's growth and development in low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this observational analysis was to examine associations of plasma choline with growth and development among Malawian children aged 6-15 months enrolled in an egg intervention trial. Plasma choline and related metabolites (betaine, dimethylglycine and trimethylamine N-oxide) were measured at baseline and 6-month follow-up, along with anthropometric (length, weight, head circumference) and developmental assessments (the Malawi Developmental Assessment Tool [MDAT], the Infant Orienting with Attention task [IOWA], a visual paired comparison [VPC] task and an elicited imitation [EI] task). In cross-sectional covariate-adjusted models, each 1 SD higher plasma choline was associated with lower length-for-age z-score (-0.09 SD [95% confidence interval, CI -0.17 to -0.01]), slower IOWA response time (8.84 ms [1.66-16.03]) and faster processing speed on the VPC task (-203.5 ms [-366.2 to -40.7]). In predictive models, baseline plasma choline was negatively associated with MDAT fine motor z-score at 6-month follow-up (-0.13 SD [-0.22 to -0.04]). There were no other significant associations of plasma choline with child measures. Similarly, associations of choline metabolites with growth and development were null except higher trimethylamine N-oxide was associated with slower information processing on the VPC task and higher memory scores on the EI task. In this cohort of children with low dietary choline intake, we conclude that there were no strong or consistent associations between plasma choline and growth and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan G. Bragg
- Department of NutritionUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
- AJ Drexel Autism InstituteDrexel UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | | | - Bess L. Caswell
- USDA Western Human Nutrition Research CenterDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Charles D. Arnold
- Department of NutritionUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Matthews George
- School of Public Health and Family MedicineKamuzu University of Health SciencesBlantyreMalawi
| | - Lisa M. Oakes
- Center for Mind and BrainUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Aaron G. Beckner
- Center for Mind and BrainUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Michaela C. DeBolt
- Center for Mind and BrainUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | | | - Kenneth M. Maleta
- School of Public Health and Family MedicineKamuzu University of Health SciencesBlantyreMalawi
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Werner ER, Haskell MJ, Arnold CD, Caswell BL, Iannotti LL, Lutter CK, Maleta KM, Stewart CP. The Effects of One Egg Per Day on Vitamin A Status Among Young Malawian Children: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial. Curr Dev Nutr 2023; 7:100053. [PMID: 37181936 PMCID: PMC10111603 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.100053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is common in populations with limited dietary diversity and access to vitamin A-rich foods. Objectives This analysis aimed to determine the impact of supplementing children's diets with 1 egg/d on the concentration of plasma retinol and RBP and the prevalence of VAD. Methods Children age 6-9 mo living in the Mangochi district of Malawi were individually randomly assigned to receive 1 egg/d for 6 mo (n = 331) or continue their usual diet (n = 329) in the Mazira trial (clinicaltrials.gov; NCT03385252). This secondary analysis measured plasma retinol by HPLC and RBP, CRP, and α-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) by ELISA techniques at enrollment and 6 mo follow-up. Retinol and RBP were adjusted for inflammation, and mean concentrations were compared between groups using linear regression models. In addition, prevalence ratios of VAD (retinol <0.7 μmol/L) were compared between groups using log-binomial or modified Poisson regression models. Results After 6 mo of study participation, 489 were assessed for retinol (egg: n = 238; control: n = 251), and 575 (egg: n = 281; control: n = 294) were assessed for RBP. Prevalence of inflammation (CRP >5 mg/L or AGP >1 g/L: 62%) and inflammation-adjusted VAD (7%) at enrollment did not differ between groups. At follow-up, the egg intervention group did not differ from the control in inflammation-adjusted retinol [geometric mean (95% CI); egg: 1.10 μmol/L (1.07, 1.13); control: 1.08 (1.05, 1.12)], RBP [egg: 0.99 μmol/L (0.96, 1.02); control: 0.97 (0.94, 1.00)], or prevalence of VAD [egg: 6%; control: 3%; prevalence ratio: 1.87 (0.83, 4.24)]. Conclusions Provision of 1 egg/d did not impact VAD, plasma retinol, or RBP among young children in rural Malawi, where the prevalence of VAD was low. Curr Dev Nutr 2023;x:xx.This trial was registered at [clinicaltrials.gov] as [NCT03385252].
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Affiliation(s)
- E Rochelle Werner
- Institute for Global Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Marjorie J Haskell
- Institute for Global Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Charles D Arnold
- Institute for Global Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Bess L Caswell
- Institute for Global Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Western Human Nutrition Research Center, US Department of Agriculture, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Lora L Iannotti
- E3 Nutrition Lab, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, United States
| | | | - Kenneth M Maleta
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Christine P Stewart
- Institute for Global Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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Werner ER, Arnold CD, Caswell BL, Iannotti LL, Lutter CK, Maleta KM, Stewart CP. The Effects of 1 Egg per Day on Iron and Anemia Status among Young Malawian Children: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial. Curr Dev Nutr 2022; 6:nzac094. [PMID: 35755939 PMCID: PMC9213210 DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzac094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Young children with diets lacking diversity with low consumption of animal source foods are at risk of iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Objectives Our objectives were to determine the impact of supplementing diets with 1 egg/d on 1) plasma ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), body iron index (BII), and hemoglobin concentrations and 2) the prevalence of iron deficiency (ID), anemia, and IDA. Methods Malawian 6-9-mo-old infants in the Mazira trial (clinicaltrials.gov; NCT03385252) were individually randomly assigned to receive 1 egg/d for 6 mo (n = 331) or continue their usual diet (n = 329). In this secondary analysis, hemoglobin, plasma ferritin, sTfR, C-reactive protein (CRP), and α-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) were measured at enrollment and 6-mo follow-up. Iron biomarkers were corrected for inflammation. Ferritin, sTfR, BII, and hemoglobin were compared between groups using linear regression. Prevalence ratios (PRs) for anemia (hemoglobin <11 g/dL) and ID (ferritin <12 µg/L, sTfR >8.3 mg/L, or BII <0 mg/kg) between groups were compared using log binomial or modified Poisson regression. Results A total of 585 children were included in this analysis (Egg: n = 286; Control: n = 299). At enrollment, the total prevalence of anemia was 61% and did not differ between groups. At 6-mo follow-up, groups did not differ in geometric mean concentration of hemoglobin [mean (95% CI); Egg: 10.9 (10.7, 11.1) g/dL; Control: 11.1 (10.9, 11.2) g/dL] and inflammation-adjusted ferritin [Egg: 6.52 (5.98, 7.10) µg/L; Control: 6.82 (6.27, 7.42) µg/L], sTfR [Egg: 11.34 (10.92, 11.78) mg/L; Control: 11.46 (11.04, 11.89) mg/L] or BII [Egg: 0.07 (0.06, 0.09) mg/kg; Control: 0.07 (0.05, 0.08) mg/kg]. There were also no group differences in anemia [Egg: 46%; Control 40%; PR: 1.15 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.38)], ID [PR: 0.99 (0.94, 1.05)], or IDA [PR: 1.12 (0.92, 1.36)]. Conclusions Providing eggs daily for 6 mo did not affect iron status or anemia prevalence in this context. Other interventions are needed to address the high prevalence of ID and anemia among young Malawian children. This trial is registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03385252.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Rochelle Werner
- Institute for Global Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Charles D Arnold
- Institute for Global Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Bess L Caswell
- Institute for Global Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- Western Human Nutrition Research Center, US Department of Agriculture, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Lora L Iannotti
- E3 Nutrition Lab, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - Kenneth M Maleta
- School of Global and Public Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
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Bragg MG, Prado EL, Arnold CD, Zyba SJ, Maleta KM, Caswell BL, Bennett BJ, Iannotti LL, Lutter CK, Stewart CP. Plasma Choline Concentration Was Not Increased After a 6-Month Egg Intervention in 6-9-Month-Old Malawian Children: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial. Curr Dev Nutr 2022; 6:nzab150. [PMID: 35233478 PMCID: PMC8881212 DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzab150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Eggs are a rich source of choline, an essential nutrient important for child growth and development. In a randomized trial of 1 egg/d in young children in Ecuador, an egg intervention led to significant improvements in growth, which were partially mediated by increased plasma choline concentration. A similar trial in Malawi (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03385252) found little improvement in child growth or development. OBJECTIVES We aimed to evaluate the effect of 1 egg/d for 6 mo on plasma choline concentrations in Malawian children enrolled in a randomized trial. METHODS Infants aged 6-9 mo in rural Malawi were randomly assigned to receive 1 egg/d (n = 331) or serve as a nonintervention control (n = 329) for 6 mo. Anthropometric, developmental, and dietary data were collected at baseline and 6-mo follow-up, along with a blood draw. Plasma choline, betaine, dimethylglycine, trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), and DHA were measured at both time points using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem MS (n = 200 per group). Linear regression analysis was used to determine the difference in plasma choline and related metabolites between groups after 6 mo of intervention. RESULTS Plasma choline, betaine, dimethylglycine, and DHA concentrations did not differ between groups at 6-mo follow-up. Plasma TMAO was significantly (26%; 95% CI: 7%, 48%) higher in the egg intervention group in a fully adjusted model. CONCLUSIONS Provision of 1 egg/d for 6 mo did not result in increases in plasma choline or related metabolites, except TMAO. This could partially explain the lack of effect on growth and development. Additional interventions are needed to improve choline status, growth, and development in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan G Bragg
- Institute for Global Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth L Prado
- Institute for Global Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Charles D Arnold
- Institute for Global Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Sarah J Zyba
- Institute for Global Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Kenneth M Maleta
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Bess L Caswell
- USDA Western Human Nutrition Research Center, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Brian J Bennett
- USDA Western Human Nutrition Research Center, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Lora L Iannotti
- Brown School, Institute for Public Health, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - Christine P Stewart
- Institute for Global Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
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Smith JW, Matchado AJ, Wu LSF, Arnold CD, Burke SM, Maleta KM, Ashorn P, Stewart CP, Shaikh S, Ali H, Labrique AB, West KP, Christian P, Dewey KG, Groopman JD, Schulze KJ. Longitudinal Assessment of Prenatal, Perinatal, and Early-Life Aflatoxin B 1 Exposure in 828 Mother-Child Dyads from Bangladesh and Malawi. Curr Dev Nutr 2022; 6:nzab153. [PMID: 35155983 PMCID: PMC8829025 DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzab153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In utero or early-life exposure to aflatoxin, which contaminates staple crops in disadvantaged settings, may compromise pregnancy and infant outcomes, but investigations into the extent, persistence, and determinants of aflatoxin exposure at these life stages have lacked longitudinal data collection and broad geographic representation. OBJECTIVES Aflatoxin exposure and selected determinants thereof were characterized in mother-child dyads with serial plasma/serum samples in prenatal, perinatal, and early life in Malawi and Bangladesh. METHODS Circulating aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-lysine albumin adducts were measured in dyads from Bangladesh (n = 573; maternal first and third trimester, 3 mo postpartum, cord blood, infant 24 mo) and Malawi (n = 255; maternal second and third trimester, 6 mo postpartum, infant 6 and 18 mo) with isotope dilution mass spectrometry. We examined AFB1-lysine adduct magnitude, persistence, seasonality, and associations with infant feeding, and estimated daily AFB1 intake. RESULTS Maternal AFB1-lysine was higher in Malawi (98% detectable; median: 0.469, IQR: 0.225-1.027 pg/µL) than in Bangladesh (59%; 0.030, nondetectable [nd]-0.077 pg/µL). Although estimated dietary exposure in Malawi was temporally stable (648 ng AFB1/day), estimated intake in Bangladesh was reduced by 94% between rainy and winter seasons (98 to 6 ng/day). AFB1-lysine was low in cord blood from Bangladesh (15% detectable; 0.045, 0.031-0.088 pg/µL among detectable) and in Malawian infants at 6 mo of age (0.072, nd-0.236 pg/µL), but reached maternal concentrations by 18 or 24 mo (Bangladesh: 0.034, nd-0.063 pg/µL; Malawi: 0.370, 0.195-0.964 pg/µL). In Malawian infants, exclusive breastfeeding at 3 mo was associated with 58% lower AFB1-lysine concentrations at 6 mo compared with other feeding modes (P = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS Among pregnant women, aflatoxin exposure was persistently high in Malawi, while lower and seasonal in Bangladesh. Infants were partially protected from exposure in utero and with exclusive breastfeeding, but exposures reached adult levels by 18-24 mo of age. The Bangladesh and Malawi trials are registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00860470 and NCT01239693.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua W Smith
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrew J Matchado
- Department of Nutrition and Institute for Global Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Lee S-F Wu
- Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Charles D Arnold
- Department of Nutrition and Institute for Global Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Sean M Burke
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kenneth M Maleta
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Per Ashorn
- Tampere University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research and Tampere University Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Tampere, Finland
| | - Christine P Stewart
- Department of Nutrition and Institute for Global Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Saijuddin Shaikh
- Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- The JiVitA Project of Johns Hopkins University, Bangladesh, Gaibandha, Bangladesh
| | - Hasmot Ali
- Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- The JiVitA Project of Johns Hopkins University, Bangladesh, Gaibandha, Bangladesh
| | - Alain B Labrique
- Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Keith P West
- Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Parul Christian
- Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kathryn G Dewey
- Department of Nutrition and Institute for Global Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - John D Groopman
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kerry J Schulze
- Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Chaima D, Pickering H, Hart JD, Burr SE, Maleta KM, Kalua K, Bailey RL, Holland MJ. Fecal biomarkers of environmental enteric dysfunction and the gut microbiota of rural Malawian children: An observational study. Heliyon 2021; 7:e08194. [PMID: 34746468 PMCID: PMC8554169 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is a subclinical condition of the gut characterized by changes in morphology and function with underlying chronic inflammatory responses. This study characterized composition and diversity of the gut microbiota in rural Malawian children with and without signs of EED. Fecal samples were collected from children aged 1-59 months. Neopterin, myeloperoxidase and alpha-1 antitrypsin concentrations were quantified by ELISA and combined to form a composite EED score using principal component analysis. DNA was extracted from fecal samples and V4-16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to characterize the gut microbiota. The concentrations of all three biomarkers decreased with increasing age, which is consistent with other studies of children living in similar low-income settings. Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were the dominant phyla while Faecalibacterium and Bifidobacterium were the most prevalent genera. Increased alpha diversity was associated with a reduction in neopterin concentration. Microbiota composition was different between fecal samples with low and high composite EED scores; increased abundance of Succinivibrio was associated with reduced composite EED scores.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Chaima
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology Unit, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Harry Pickering
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - John D. Hart
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah E. Burr
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology Unit, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Kenneth M. Maleta
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Khumbo Kalua
- Blantyre Institute of Community Outreach, Blantyre, Malawi
- Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Robin L. Bailey
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Martin J. Holland
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Caswell BL, Arnold CD, Lutter CK, Iannotti LL, Chipatala R, Werner ER, Maleta KM, Stewart CP. Impacts of an egg intervention on nutrient adequacy among young Malawian children. Matern Child Nutr 2021; 17:e13196. [PMID: 33974324 PMCID: PMC8189245 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Eggs are a rich source of multiple nutrients that support child growth and development. Provision of eggs as a complementary food may improve dietary adequacy among young children at risk for undernutrition. Our objective was to test the impact of an egg intervention on the adequacy of total nutrient intakes and micronutrient density among 6- to 15-month-old Malawian children. Children 6 to 9 months old, living in Mangochi District, Malawi, were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 331) receiving an egg per day or a control group (n = 329) consuming their usual diet. Dietary intakes of macronutrients, vitamins and minerals were assessed using 24-h recalls at baseline, 3-month midline and 6-month endline, with repeat recalls in a subsample. Usual nutrient intake and micronutrient density distributions were modelled to estimate group means and prevalence of inadequacy. Group differences at midline and endline were tested using unequal variance t tests with bootstrapped standard errors. The egg intervention resulted in higher intakes of fat and protein and lower intakes of carbohydrates. The egg group had lower prevalence of inadequacy for selenium, vitamin A, riboflavin, vitamin B5 , vitamin B12 and choline. Micronutrient density inadequacy was lower in the egg group for vitamin A and choline at midline and endline, riboflavin at midline and vitamin B5 at endline. Inadequacy of nutrient intakes or density remained highly prevalent in both groups for multiple micronutrients. Though the egg intervention increased intakes of protein and several micronutrients, total intakes and micronutrient density of multiple micronutrients remained far below recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bess L. Caswell
- Department of NutritionUniversity of California, DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Charles D. Arnold
- Department of NutritionUniversity of California, DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Chessa K. Lutter
- Food and Nutrition DivisionRTI InternationalResearch Triangle ParkNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Lora L. Iannotti
- Institute for Public HealthBrown School at Washington University in Saint LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Raphael Chipatala
- Institute for Public HealthBrown School at Washington University in Saint LouisSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | | | - Kenneth M. Maleta
- School of Public Health and Family MedicineUniversity of Malawi College of MedicineBlantyreMalawi
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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:nu12061563. [PMID: 32471229 PMCID: PMC7352807 DOI: 10.3390/nu12061563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [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.)
- Correspondence: (B.H.L.); (J.C.P.); Tel.: +265-881-131-422/993-226-040 (J.C.P.)
| | - 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.)
- Correspondence: (B.H.L.); (J.C.P.); Tel.: +265-881-131-422/993-226-040 (J.C.P.)
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10
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Maleta KM, Manary MJ. WASH alone cannot prevent childhood linear growth faltering. Lancet Glob Health 2019; 7:e16-e17. [PMID: 30554752 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(18)30420-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth M Maleta
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Private Bag 360 Blantyre 3, Malawi.
| | - Mark J Manary
- Department of Pediatrics, St Louis Children's Hospital, St Louis, MO, USA
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11
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Ngoma TN, Chimimba UK, Mwangwela AM, Thakwalakwa C, Maleta KM, Manary MJ, Trehan I. Effect of cowpea flour processing on the chemical properties and acceptability of a novel cowpea blended maize porridge. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0200418. [PMID: 29990380 PMCID: PMC6039016 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Childhood growth stunting is a pervasive problem in Malawi and is in large part due to low quality complementary foods and chronic gut inflammation. Introducing legumes such as cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) into the complementary diet has the potential to improve childhood growth by improving diet quality through improvements in macro- and micronutrients and also by reducing gut inflammation. However, cowpea is relatively underutilized in complementary feeding in Malawi due to its strong taste, long processing time, and high energy requirements for processing. Effective utilization of cowpea in complementary feeding requires processing which may affect chemical composition as well as sensory quality. The present study evaluated the effect of processing on the retention of zinc, crude fibre, and flavonoid in roasted, boiled, and dehulled cowpea flours, and assessed the acceptability of maize porridge (70%) enriched with one of the three cowpea flours (30%). Roasting, dehulling, and boiling did not have any effect on zinc content. Crude fibre content increased after processing by all methods. Processing had no effect on measurable flavonoids. Roasted, boiled, and dehulled cowpea blended maize porridges were acceptable to children with mean quantities of leftover food of less than 3g from the given 100g. Caregivers also rated the blended flours to be highly acceptable to them as well, with maize porridge blended with dehulled cowpea flour the most acceptable to both children and caregivers. These results demonstrate that cowpea flour, processed by any of these three different methods, could serve as a useful addition to maize porridge for complementary feeding of children in sub-Saharan Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa N Ngoma
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Ulemu K Chimimba
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Agnes M Mwangwela
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Chrissie Thakwalakwa
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Kenneth M Maleta
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Mark J Manary
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi.,Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Indi Trehan
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St Louis, Missouri, United States of America.,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
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12
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Stobaugh HC, Rogers BL, Rosenberg IH, Webb P, Maleta KM, Manary MJ, Trehan I. Children with Poor Linear Growth Are at Risk for Repeated Relapse to Wasting after Recovery from Moderate Acute Malnutrition. J Nutr 2018; 148:974-979. [PMID: 29726948 DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxy033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Nutrition programs frequently approach wasting and stunting as 2 separate conditions with distinct causes and effects. Although several cross-sectional studies have identified an association between the 2 conditions, longitudinal studies are useful to quantify the risk of acute malnutrition based on the trajectory of linear growth. Objective We analyzed data from a longitudinal study to explore associations between linear growth and relapse to acute malnutrition in high-risk children during the year after recovery from moderate acute malnutrition (MAM). Methods This was a secondary data analysis from a cluster randomized trial involving 1487 Malawian children 6-62 mo old treated for MAM and enrolled upon recovery. Children were followed for 1 y, during which data were collected on anthropometric progress, symptoms of illness, and household food security. Multivariate fixed-effects logistic regression was used to identify associations between linear growth and relapse to acute malnutrition. Results Children who have recovered from MAM proved to be a high-risk population, with nearly half experiencing a decrease in height-for-age z score (HAZ) for 12 mo. Children whose HAZ was declining were more likely to relapse to MAM or SAM than were those whose linear growth rate maintained or increased their HAZ (P < 0.001). Mean changes of +0.15, -0.03, -0.17, and -0.53 in HAZ were observed for those who sustained recovery, relapsed to MAM once, relapsed to MAM multiple times, and developed SAM, respectively. Conclusion Our results add to the body of evidence suggesting that acute wasting is a harbinger of subsequent stunting. Children who experience poor linear growth after MAM are more likely to experience relapse. Given this bidirectional relation between wasting and stunting, supplementary feeding programs should consider both when designing protocols, aiming to optimize linear growth and achieve acute weight gain, as a means of reducing relapse. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02351687.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather C Stobaugh
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO.,Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA.,RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC
| | - Beatrice L Rogers
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA
| | - Irwin H Rosenberg
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA
| | - Patrick Webb
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA
| | - Kenneth M Maleta
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, and Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Mark J Manary
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO.,School of Public Health and Family Medicine, and Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi.,Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Indi Trehan
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO.,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi.,Lao Friends Hospital for Children, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR
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13
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Agapova SE, Stephenson KB, Divala O, Kaimila Y, Maleta KM, Thakwalakwa C, Ordiz MI, Trehan I, Manary MJ. Additional Common Bean in the Diet of Malawian Children Does Not Affect Linear Growth, but Reduces Intestinal Permeability. J Nutr 2018; 148:267-274. [PMID: 29490090 DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxx013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic malnutrition, as manifested by linear growth faltering, is pervasive among rural African children. Improvements in complementary feeding may decrease the burden of environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) and thus improve growth in children during the critical first 1000 d of development. Objective We tested the hypothesis that systematically including common bean or cowpea into complementary feeding would reduce EED and growth faltering among children in rural Malawi. Methods This was a double-blind clinical trial in which children 12-23 mo of age were randomly assigned to receive complementary feeding with 1 of 3 foods: roasted cowpea or common bean flour, or an isoenergetic amount of corn-soy blend as a control food for 48 wk. Children aged 12-23 mo received 155 kcal/d and thereafter until 35 mo received 200 kcal/d. The primary outcomes were change in length-for-age z score (LAZ) and improvements in a biomarker of EED, the percentage of lactulose (%L) excreted as part of the lactulose:mannitol dual-sugar absorption test. Anthropometric measurements and urinary %L excretion were compared between the 2 intervention groups and the control group separately with the use of linear mixed model analyses for repeated measures. Results A total of 331 children completed the clinical trial. Compliance with the study interventions was excellent, with >90% of the intervention flour consumed as intended. No significant effects on LAZ, change in LAZ, or weight-for-length z score were observed due to either intervention legume, compared to the control. %L was reduced with common bean consumption (effect estimate was -0.07 percentage points of lactulose, P = 0.0007). The lactulose:mannitol test was not affected by the legume intervention. Conclusion The addition of common bean to complementary feeding of rural Malawian children during the second year of life led to an improvement in a biomarker of gut health, although this did not directly translate into improved linear growth. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02472301.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Oscar Divala
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine and Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Yankho Kaimila
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine and Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Kenneth M Maleta
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine and Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Chrissie Thakwalakwa
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine and Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - M Isabel Ordiz
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University, St Louis, MO
| | - Indi Trehan
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University, St Louis, MO.,Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Mark J Manary
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University, St Louis, MO.,School of Public Health and Family Medicine and Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi.,Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
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14
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Adams KP, Ayifah E, Phiri TE, Mridha MK, Adu-Afarwuah S, Arimond M, Arnold CD, Cummins J, Hussain S, Kumwenda C, Matias SL, Ashorn U, Lartey A, Maleta KM, Vosti SA, Dewey KG. Maternal and Child Supplementation with Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements, but Not Child Supplementation Alone, Decreases Self-Reported Household Food Insecurity in Some Settings. J Nutr 2017; 147:2309-2318. [PMID: 28978680 PMCID: PMC5697970 DOI: 10.3945/jn.117.257386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: It is unknown whether self-reported measures of household food insecurity change in response to food-based nutrient supplementation.Objective: We assessed the impacts of providing lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNSs) to women during pregnancy and postpartum and/or to their children on self-reported household food insecurity in Malawi [DOSE and DYAD trial in Malawi (DYAD-M)], Ghana [DYAD trial in Ghana (DYAD-G)], and Bangladesh [Rang-Din Nutrition Study (RDNS) trial].Methods: Longitudinal household food-insecurity data were collected during 3 individually randomized trials and 1 cluster-randomized trial testing the efficacy or effectiveness of LNSs (generally 118 kcal/d). Seasonally adjusted Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) scores were constructed for 1127 DOSE households, 732 DYAD-M households, 1109 DYAD-G households, and 3671 RDNS households. The impact of providing LNSs to women during pregnancy and the first 6 mo postpartum and/or to their children from 6 to 18-24 mo on seasonally adjusted HFIAS scores was assessed by using negative binomial models (DOSE, DYAD-M, and DYAD-G trials) and mixed-effect negative binomial models (RDNS trial).Results: In the DOSE and DYAD-G trials, seasonally adjusted HFIAS scores were not different between the LNS and non-LNS groups. In the DYAD-M trial, the average household food-insecurity scores were 14% lower (P = 0.01) in LNS households than in non-LNS households. In the RDNS trial, compared with non-LNS households, food-insecurity scores were 17% lower (P = 0.02) during pregnancy and the first 6 mo postpartum and 15% lower (P = 0.02) at 6-24 mo postpartum in LNS households.Conclusions: The daily provision of LNSs to mothers and their children throughout much of the "first 1000 d" may improve household food security in some settings, which could be viewed as an additional benefit that may accrue in households should policy makers choose to invest in LNSs to promote child growth and development. These trials were registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00945698 (DOSE) NCT01239693 (DYAD-M), NCT00970866 (DYAD-G) and NCT01715038 (RDNS).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emmanuel Ayifah
- Department of Economics, School of Economic and Business Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Thokozani E Phiri
- School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Malay K Mridha
- Departments of Nutrition and,James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Seth Adu-Afarwuah
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | | | | | - Joseph Cummins
- Department of Economics, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA
| | - Sohrab Hussain
- Saving Newborn Lives Program, Save the Children International, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | | | - Ulla Ashorn
- Center for Child Health Research, University of Tampere Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Anna Lartey
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kenneth M Maleta
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi; and
| | - Stephen A Vosti
- Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
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15
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Semba RD, Trehan I, Li X, Salem N, Moaddel R, Ordiz MI, Maleta KM, Kraemer K, Manary MJ. Low serum ω-3 and ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and other metabolites are associated with poor linear growth in young children from rural Malawi. Am J Clin Nutr 2017; 106:1490-1499. [PMID: 29070563 PMCID: PMC5698844 DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.117.164384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Stunting affects ∼25% of children <5 y of age and is associated with impaired cognitive and motor development and increased morbidity and mortality. The pathogenesis of stunting is poorly understood.Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify altered metabolic pathways associated with child stunting.Design: We measured 677 serum metabolites using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in a cross-sectional study of 400 Malawian children aged 12-59 mo, of whom 62% were stunted.Results: A low height-for-age z score (HAZ) was associated with lower serum concentrations of 1) ω-3 (n-3) and ω-6 (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), 2) sulfated neurosteroids, which play a role in brain development, 3) carnitine, a conditionally essential nutrient with an important role in the carnitine shuttle for the metabolism of fatty acids and energy production, and 4) γ-glutamyl amino acids, which represent an altered γ-glutamyl cycle of glutathione metabolism. A low HAZ was associated with significantly higher serum concentrations of 5 biomarkers related to cigarette smoke exposure.Conclusions: This metabolomics study shows a cross-sectional association between stunting and low serum ω-3 and ω-6 long-chain PUFAs, which are essential for growth and development; low sulfated neurosteroids, which play a role in brain development; low carnitine, which is essential for β-oxidation of fatty acids; alterations in glutathione metabolism; and increased serum metabolites that are associated with secondhand tobacco smoke exposure. This trial was registered at www.controlled-trials.com as ISRCTN14597012.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard D Semba
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD;
| | - Indi Trehan
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University at St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Ximin Li
- Departments of Biostatistics and
| | | | | | - M Isabel Ordiz
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University at St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Kenneth M Maleta
- College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi; and
| | - Klaus Kraemer
- International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD;,Sight and Life, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mark J Manary
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University at St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
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16
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Stephenson KB, Agapova SE, Divala O, Kaimila Y, Maleta KM, Thakwalakwa C, Ordiz MI, Trehan I, Manary MJ. Complementary feeding with cowpea reduces growth faltering in rural Malawian infants: a blind, randomized controlled clinical trial. Am J Clin Nutr 2017; 106:1500-1507. [PMID: 29092882 PMCID: PMC6482976 DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.117.160986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Growth faltering is common in rural African children and is attributed to inadequate dietary intake and environmental enteric dysfunction (EED).Objective: We tested the hypothesis that complementary feeding with cowpea or common bean flour would reduce growth faltering and EED in 6-mo-old rural Malawians compared with the control group receiving a corn-soy blend.Design: A prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in which children received daily feeding for 6 mo (200 kcal/d when 6-9 mo old and 300 kcal/d when 10-12 mo old). The primary outcomes were change in length-for-age z score (LAZ) and improvements in EED, as measured by percentage of lactulose excretion (%L). %L <0.2% was considered normal. Anthropometric measurements and %L through urine were compared between each legume group and the control group with Student's t test.Results: Of the 355 infants enrolled, 291 infants completed the trial, and 288 were breastfed throughout the duration of the study. Cowpea and common bean added 4.6-5.2 g protein/d and 4-5 g indigestible carbohydrate/d to the diet. LAZ and weight-for-height z score were reduced in all 3 groups from 6 to 12 mo of age. The changes in LAZ [mean (95% CI)] for the cowpea, common bean, and control groups from 6 to 9 mo were -0.14 (-0.24, -0.04), -0.27 (-0.38, -0.16), and -0.27 (-0.35, -0.19), respectively. LAZ was reduced less in infants receiving cowpea than in those receiving control food from 6 to 9 mo (P = 0.048). The absolute value of %L did not differ between the dietary groups at 9 mo of age (mean ± SD: 0.30 ± 0.43, 0.23 ± 0.21, and 0.26 ± 0.31 for cowpea, common bean, and control, respectively), nor did the change in %L from 6 to 9 mo.Conclusion: Addition of cowpea to complementary feeding in Malawian infants resulted in less linear growth faltering. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02472262.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Oscar Divala
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Yankho Kaimila
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Kenneth M Maleta
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Chrissie Thakwalakwa
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - M Isabel Ordiz
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
| | - Indi Trehan
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University, St. Louis, MO,Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Mark J Manary
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University, St. Louis, MO; .,School of Public Health and Family Medicine and.,Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
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17
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Cheng WD, Wold KJ, Benzoni NS, Thakwalakwa C, Maleta KM, Manary MJ, Trehan I. Lactoferrin and lysozyme to reduce environmental enteric dysfunction and stunting in Malawian children: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2017; 18:523. [PMID: 29110675 PMCID: PMC5674751 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-017-2278-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic childhood malnutrition, as manifested by stunted linear growth, remains a persistent barrier to optimal child growth and societal development. Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is a significant underlying factor in the causal pathway to stunting, delayed cognitive development, and ultimately morbidity and mortality. Effective therapies against EED and stunting are lacking and further clinical trials are warranted to effectively identify and operationalize interventions. Methods/design A prospective randomized placebo-controlled parallel-group randomized controlled trial will be conducted to determine if a daily supplement of lactoferrin and lysozyme, two important proteins found in breast milk, can decrease the burden of EED and stunting in rural Malawian children aged 12–23 months old. The intervention and control groups will have a sample size of 86 subjects each. All field and laboratory researchers will be blinded to the assigned intervention group, as will the subjects and their caregivers. The percentage of ingested lactulose excreted in the urine (Δ%L) after 4 h will be used as the biomarker for EED and linear growth as the measure of chronic malnutrition (stunting). The primary outcomes of interest will be change in Δ%L from baseline to 8 weeks and to 16 weeks. Intention-to-treat analyses will be used. Discussion A rigorous clinical trial design will be used to assess the biologically plausible use of lactoferrin and lysozyme as dietary supplements for children at high risk for EED. If proven effective, these safe proteins may serve to markedly reduce the burden of childhood malnutrition and improve survival. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02925026. Registered on 4 October 2016. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13063-017-2278-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- William D Cheng
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, One Children's Place, Campus Box 8116, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Karl J Wold
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, One Children's Place, Campus Box 8116, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Nicole S Benzoni
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, One Children's Place, Campus Box 8116, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Chrissie Thakwalakwa
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Kenneth M Maleta
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Mark J Manary
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, One Children's Place, Campus Box 8116, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA.,School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi.,Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Indi Trehan
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, One Children's Place, Campus Box 8116, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA. .,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi. .,Lao Friends Hospital for Children, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR.
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18
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Borresen EC, Zhang L, Trehan I, Nealon NJ, Maleta KM, Manary MJ, Ryan EP. The Nutrient and Metabolite Profile of 3 Complementary Legume Foods with Potential to Improve Gut Health in Rural Malawian Children. Curr Dev Nutr 2017; 1:e001610. [PMID: 29955682 PMCID: PMC5998778 DOI: 10.3945/cdn.117.001610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED), frequently seen in rural Malawian children, causes chronic inflammation and increases the risk of stunting. Legumes may be beneficial for improving nutrition and reducing the risk of developing EED in weaning children. Objective: The objectives of this study were to determine the nutritional value, verify the food safety, and identify metabolite profiles of 3 legume-based complementary foods: common bean (CB), cowpea (CP), and traditional corn-soy blend (CSB). Methods: Foods were prepared by using local ingredients and analyzed for nutrient composition with the use of Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) standards (950.46, 991.43, 992.15, 996.06, and 991.36) for macro- and micronutrient proximate analysis. Food safety analysis was conducted in accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency (7471B) and AOAC (2008.02) standards. The metabolite composition of foods was determined with nontargeted ultra-performance LC-tandem mass spectrometry metabolomics. Results: All foods provided similar energy; CB and CP foods contained higher protein and dietary fiber contents than did the CSB food. Iron and zinc were highest in the CSB and CP foods, whereas CB and CP foods contained higher amounts of magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. A total of 652 distinct metabolites were identified across the 3 foods, and 23, 14, and 36 metabolites were specific to the CSB, CB, and CP foods, respectively. Among the potential dietary biomarkers of intake to distinguish legume foods were pipecolic acid and oleanolic acid for CB; arabinose and serotonin for CSB; and quercetin and α- and γ-tocopherol acid for CP. No heavy metals were detected, and aflatoxin was measured only in the CSB (5.2 parts per billion). Conclusions: Legumes in the diet provide a rich source of protein, dietary fiber, essential micronutrients, and phytochemicals that may reduce EED. These food metabolite analyses identified potential dietary biomarkers of legume intake for stool, urine, and blood detection that can be used in future studies to assess the relation between the distinct legumes consumed and health outcomes. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02472262 and NCT02472301.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica C Borresen
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Indi Trehan
- Lao Friends Hospital for Children, Luang Prabang, Lao People's Democratic Republic
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Nora Jean Nealon
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
- Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Kenneth M Maleta
- Department of Public Health, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Mark J Manary
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
- Department of Public Health, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Elizabeth P Ryan
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
- Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
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19
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Callaghan-Gillespie M, Schaffner AA, Garcia P, Fry J, Eckert R, Malek S, Trehan I, Thakwalakwa C, Maleta KM, Manary MJ, Papathakis PC. Trial of ready-to-use supplemental food and corn-soy blend in pregnant Malawian women with moderate malnutrition: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Am J Clin Nutr 2017; 106:1062-1069. [PMID: 28793991 PMCID: PMC6483045 DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.117.157198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Malnutrition during pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa is associated with poor birth outcomes. Objective This study compared maternal and offspring anthropometry for moderately malnourished pregnant women receiving ready-to-use supplemental food (RUSF), a fortified corn-soy blend (CSB+) with a daily multiple micronutrient antenatal supplement [United Nations International Multiple Micronutrient Preparation (UNIMMAP)], or standard of care comprising CSB+ and iron and folic acid (IFA). Design A single-blind randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in southern Malawi among 1828 pregnant women with moderate malnutrition, defined as a midupper arm circumference (MUAC) ≥20.6 and ≤23.0 cm. Women received 1 of 3 dietary treatment regimens that provided ∼900 kcal/d and 33-36 g protein/d. Maternal and infant anthropometry were followed until the child was 3 mo old. Results Newborns had a mean length-for-age z score of -1.3 ± 1.2 and 22% were stunted at birth. Mothers receiving RUSF had the highest weight gain during supplementation (3.4 ± 2.6, 3.0 ± 2.2, and 3.2 ± 2.4 kg for the RUSF, CSB+ with UNIMMAP, and CSB+ with IFA groups, respectively; P = 0.03). Newborn birth weights and lengths were similar across intervention groups, but the incidence of newborns with a birth weight <2.4 kg (weight-for-age z score <-2) was higher in the CSB+ with UNIMMAP group than the other groups (17%, 18%, and 24% for the CSB+ with IFA, RUSF, and CSB+ with UNIMMAP groups, respectively; P = 0.02). At birth, HIV-exposed newborns had a similar length and weight as newborns without HIV exposure, but their head circumference was smaller (34.0 ± 1.5 and 34.3 ± 1.6 cm, respectively; P = 0.02). At 3 mo of age, HIV-exposed infants had smaller weights, lengths, and head and arm circumferences than infants without HIV exposure. Conclusions RUSF improved maternal weight gain compared with CSB+ with UNIMMAP. The large amount of food given and the modest effect on linear growth in newborns suggests that stunting in utero is unlikely to be reduced by supplemental food alone. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02120599.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrew A Schaffner
- Department of Statistics, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
| | - Patsy Garcia
- Department of Statistics, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
| | - Jocelyn Fry
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
| | - Rachael Eckert
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
| | - Shirin Malek
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
| | - Indi Trehan
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Chrissie Thakwalakwa
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Kenneth M Maleta
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Mark J Manary
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Peggy C Papathakis
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
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20
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Stobaugh HC, Bollinger LB, Adams SE, Crocker AH, Grise JB, Kennedy JA, Thakwalakwa C, Maleta KM, Dietzen DJ, Manary MJ, Trehan I. Effect of a package of health and nutrition services on sustained recovery in children after moderate acute malnutrition and factors related to sustaining recovery: a cluster-randomized trial. Am J Clin Nutr 2017; 106:657-666. [PMID: 28615258 PMCID: PMC6482975 DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.116.149799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 05/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Children who recover from moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) have high rates of relapse in the year after nutritional recovery. Interventions to decrease these adverse outcomes are needed to maximize the overall effectiveness of supplemental feeding programs (SFPs).Objective: We evaluated the effectiveness of a package of health and nutrition interventions on improving the proportion of children who sustained recovery for 1 y after MAM treatment. We further explored factors related to sustained recovery.Design: We conducted a cluster-randomized clinical effectiveness trial involving rural Malawian children aged 6-62 mo who were enrolled on discharge from an SFP for MAM. We enrolled 718 children at 10 control sites and 769 children at 11 intervention sites. In addition to routine health and nutrition counseling, the intervention group received a package of health and nutrition interventions that consisted of a lipid nutrient supplement, deworming medication, zinc supplementation, a bed net, and malaria chemoprophylaxis. A survival analysis was used to determine the effectiveness of the intervention as well as to identify factors associated with sustained recovery.Results: Of 1383 children who returned for the full 12-mo follow-up period, 407 children (56%) and 347 children (53%) sustained recovery in the intervention and control groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in relapse-free survival curves between the treatment and control groups (P = 0.380; log-rank test). The risk factors for relapse or death after initial recovery were a smaller midupper arm circumference on SFP admission (P = 0.01) and discharge (P < 0.001), a lower weight-for-height z score on discharge (P < 0.01), and the receipt of ready-to-use supplementary food as opposed to ready-to-use therapeutic food during treatment (P < 0.05).Conclusion: The provision of a package of health and nutrition services in addition to traditional SFP treatment has no significant effect on improving sustained recovery in children after treatment of MAM. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02351687.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather C Stobaugh
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA,Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Lucy B Bollinger
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Sara E Adams
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Audrey H Crocker
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Jennifer B Grise
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Julie A Kennedy
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | | | | | - Dennis J Dietzen
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Mark J Manary
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO,School of Public Health and Family Medicine,Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Indi Trehan
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO; .,Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi.,Partners In Health, Harper, Liberia
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21
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Semba RD, Trehan I, Li X, Moaddel R, Ordiz MI, Maleta KM, Kraemer K, Shardell M, Ferrucci L, Manary M. Environmental Enteric Dysfunction is Associated with Carnitine Deficiency and Altered Fatty Acid Oxidation. EBioMedicine 2017; 17:57-66. [PMID: 28122695 PMCID: PMC5360565 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2017.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Revised: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED), a condition characterized by small intestine inflammation and abnormal gut permeability, is widespread in children in developing countries and a major cause of growth failure. The pathophysiology of EED remains poorly understood. METHODS We measured serum metabolites using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in 400 children, aged 12-59months, from rural Malawi. Gut permeability was assessed by the dual-sugar absorption test. FINDINGS 80.7% of children had EED. Of 677 serum metabolites measured, 21 were negatively associated and 56 were positively associated with gut permeability, using a false discovery rate approach (q<0.05, p<0.0095). Increased gut permeability was associated with elevated acylcarnitines, deoxycarnitine, fatty acid β-oxidation intermediates, fatty acid ω-oxidation products, odd-chain fatty acids, trimethylamine-N-oxide, cystathionine, and homocitrulline, and with lower citrulline, ornithine, polyphenol metabolites, hippurate, tryptophan, and indolelactate. INTERPRETATION EED is a syndrome characterized by secondary carnitine deficiency, abnormal fatty acid oxidation, alterations in polyphenol and amino acid metabolites, and metabolic dysregulation of sulfur amino acids, tryptophan, and the urea cycle. Future studies are needed to corroborate the presence of secondary carnitine deficiency among children with EED and to understand how these metabolic derangements may negatively affect the growth and development of young children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard D Semba
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Indi Trehan
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University at St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ximin Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ruin Moaddel
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - M Isabel Ordiz
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University at St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - Klaus Kraemer
- Sight and Life, Basel, Switzerland; Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Michelle Shardell
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Luigi Ferrucci
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mark Manary
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University at St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
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22
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Wang AZ, Shulman RJ, Crocker AH, Thakwalakwa C, Maleta KM, Devaraj S, Manary MJ, Trehan I. A Combined Intervention of Zinc, Multiple Micronutrients, and Albendazole Does Not Ameliorate Environmental Enteric Dysfunction or Stunting in Rural Malawian Children in a Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial. J Nutr 2017; 147:97-103. [PMID: 27807040 DOI: 10.3945/jn.116.237735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2016] [Revised: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) and linear growth stunting affect many rural agrarian children in the developing world and contribute to the persistently high rates of stunting that are observed worldwide. Effective interventions to consistently ameliorate EED are lacking. OBJECTIVE We tested whether a bundle of safe and affordable interventions would decrease EED and stunting over 12-24 wk in a cohort of rural Malawian children 12-35 mo old. METHODS This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in which the intervention group received a single dose of albendazole and 14 d of zinc at enrollment and after 20 wk. The intervention group also received a daily multiple micronutrient powder throughout the 24 wk of study. The primary outcomes were improvements in EED, as measured by the urinary lactulose-to-mannitol ratio (L:M ratio) from dual-sugar absorption testing, and linear growth. Urinary L:M ratios and anthropometric measurements were evaluated after 12 and 24 wk of intervention and compared with a placebo group that did not receive any of these interventions. RESULTS A total of 254 children were enrolled at a mean age of 24 mo; 55% were female. Their mean weight-for-age z score was -1.5, and their mean length-for-age z score was -0.9. After 12 and 24 wk of study, increases in the L:M ratio did not differ between the intervention group (0.071 and 0.088 units, respectively) and the placebo group (0.073 and 0.080 units, respectively) (P = 0.87 and 0.19, respectively). Relative changes in length and weight also did not differ significantly between groups at any time point. CONCLUSION The combined usage of albendazole, zinc, and a daily multiple micronutrient powder did not decrease EED or stunting in this population of agrarian children 12-35 mo old in rural Malawi. Alternative interventions to improve these diseases should be investigated. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02253095.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfred Z Wang
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX.,Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Robert J Shulman
- USDA/Agricultural Research Service Children's Nutrition Research Center, Houston, TX; Departments of.,Pediatrics and
| | - Audrey H Crocker
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | | | | | | | - Mark J Manary
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO; .,USDA/Agricultural Research Service Children's Nutrition Research Center, Houston, TX; Departments of.,School of Public Health and Family Medicine and
| | - Indi Trehan
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO; .,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
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23
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Trehan I, Goldbach HS, LaGrone LN, Meuli GJ, Wang RJ, Maleta KM, Manary MJ. Antibiotics as part of the management of severe acute malnutrition. Malawi Med J 2016; 28:123-130. [PMID: 27895846 PMCID: PMC5117002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe acute malnutrition contributes to 1 million deaths among children annually. Adding routine antibiotic agents to nutritional therapy may increase recovery rates and decrease mortality among children with severe acute malnutrition treated in the community. METHODS In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we randomly assigned Malawian children, 6 to 59 months of age, with severe acute malnutrition to receive amoxicillin, cefdinir, or placebo for 7 days in addition to ready-to-use therapeutic food for the outpatient treatment of uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition. The primary outcomes were the rate of nutritional recovery and the mortality rate. RESULTS A total of 2767 children with severe acute malnutrition were enrolled. In the amoxicillin, cefdinir, and placebo groups, 88.7%, 90.9%, and 85.1% of the children recovered, respectively (relative risk of treatment failure with placebo vs. amoxicillin, 1.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04 to 1.68; relative risk with placebo vs. cefdinir, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.27 to 2.11). The mortality rates for the three groups were 4.8%, 4.1%, and 7.4%, respectively (relative risk of death with placebo vs. amoxicillin, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.07 to 2.24; relative risk with placebo vs. cefdinir, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.22 to 2.64). Among children who recovered, the rate of weight gain was increased among those who received antibiotics. No interaction between type of severe acute malnutrition and intervention group was observed for either the rate of nutritional recovery or the mortality rate. CONCLUSIONS The addition of antibiotics to therapeutic regimens for uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition was associated with a significant improvement in recovery and mortality rates. (Funded by the Hickey Family Foundation and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01000298.).
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Affiliation(s)
- Indi Trehan
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.; Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Hayley S Goldbach
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
| | - Lacey N LaGrone
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A
| | - Guthrie J Meuli
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A
| | - Richard J Wang
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, New York, U.S.A
| | - Kenneth M Maleta
- Department of Community Health, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Mark J Manary
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.; Department of Community Health, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi; U.S. Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, U.S.A
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24
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Semba RD, Zhang P, Gonzalez-Freire M, Moaddel R, Trehan I, Maleta KM, Ordiz MI, Ferrucci L, Manary MJ. The association of serum choline with linear growth failure in young children from rural Malawi. Am J Clin Nutr 2016; 104:191-7. [PMID: 27281303 PMCID: PMC4919529 DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.115.129684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 05/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Choline is an essential nutrient for cell structure, cell signaling, neurotransmission, lipid transport, and bone formation. Choline can be irreversibly converted to betaine, a major source of methyl groups. Trimethylene N-oxide (TMAO), a proatherogenic molecule, is produced from the metabolism of dietary choline by the gut microbiome. The relation between serum choline and its closely related metabolites with linear growth in children is unknown. OBJECTIVE The aim was to characterize the relation between serum choline and its closely related metabolites, betaine and TMAO, with linear growth and stunting in young children. DESIGN We measured serum choline, betaine, and TMAO concentrations by using liquid chromatography isotopic dilution tandem mass spectrometry in a cross-sectional study in 325 Malawian children, aged 12-59 mo, of whom 62% were stunted. RESULTS Median (25th, 75th percentile) serum choline, betaine, and TMAO concentrations were 6.4 (4.8, 8.3), 12.4 (9.1, 16.3), and 1.2 (0.7, 1.8) μmol/L, respectively. Spearman correlation coefficients of age with serum choline, betaine, and TMAO were -0.57 (P < 0.0001), -0.26 (P < 0.0001), and -0.10 (P = 0.07), respectively. Correlation coefficients of height-for-age z score with serum choline, betaine-to-choline ratio, and TMAO-to-choline ratio were 0.31 (P < 0.0001), -0.24 (P < 0.0001), and -0.29 (P < 0.0001), respectively. Serum choline concentrations were strongly and significantly associated with stunting. Children with and without stunting had median (25th, 75th percentile) serum choline concentrations of 5.6 (4.4, 7.4) and 7.3 (5.9, 9.1) μmol/L (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Linear growth failure in young children is associated with low serum choline and elevated betaine-to-choline and TMAO-to-choline ratios. Further work is needed to understand whether low dietary choline intake explains low circulating choline among stunted children living in low-income countries and whether increasing choline intake may correct choline deficiency and improve growth and development. This trial was registered in the ISRCTN registry (www.isrctn.com) as ISRCTN14597012.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard D Semba
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD;
| | - Pingbo Zhang
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | | | | | - Indi Trehan
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO; and Departments of Community Health and Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Kenneth M Maleta
- Community Health and Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - M Isabel Ordiz
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO; and Departments of
| | | | - Mark J Manary
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO; and Departments of Community Health and Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
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25
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Semba RD, Shardell M, Trehan I, Moaddel R, Maleta KM, Ordiz MI, Kraemer K, Khadeer M, Ferrucci L, Manary MJ. Metabolic alterations in children with environmental enteric dysfunction. Sci Rep 2016; 6:28009. [PMID: 27294788 PMCID: PMC4904796 DOI: 10.1038/srep28009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 05/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Environmental enteric dysfunction, an asymptomatic condition characterized by inflammation of the small bowel mucosa, villous atrophy, malabsorption, and increased intestinal permeability, is a major contributor to childhood stunting in low-income countries. Here we report the relationship of increased intestinal permeability with serum metabolites in 315 children without acute malnutrition, aged 12-59 months, in rural Malawi. Increased gut permeability was associated with significant differences in circulating metabolites that included lower serum phosphatidylcholines, sphingomyelins, tryptophan, ornithine, and citrulline, and elevated serum glutamate, taurine, and serotonin. Our findings suggest that environmental enteric dysfunction is characterized by alterations in important metabolites involved in growth and differentiation and gut function and integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard D Semba
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Michelle Shardell
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Indi Trehan
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA.,School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Ruin Moaddel
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Kenneth M Maleta
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - M Isabel Ordiz
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
| | - Klaus Kraemer
- Sight and Life,, CH-4002, Basel, Switzerland.,Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Mohammed Khadeer
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Luigi Ferrucci
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Mark J Manary
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA.,School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
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26
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Stobaugh HC, Ryan KN, Kennedy JA, Grise JB, Crocker AH, Thakwalakwa C, Litkowski PE, Maleta KM, Manary MJ, Trehan I. Including whey protein and whey permeate in ready-to-use supplementary food improves recovery rates in children with moderate acute malnutrition: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Am J Clin Nutr 2016; 103:926-33. [PMID: 26864368 DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.115.124636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The utility of dairy ingredients in the supplementary foods used in the treatment of childhood moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) remains unsettled. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the effectiveness of a peanut-based ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF) with soy protein compared with a novel RUSF containing dairy ingredients in the form of whey permeate and whey protein concentrate in the treatment of children with MAM. DESIGN We conducted a randomized, double-blind clinical effectiveness trial involving rural Malawian and Mozambican children 6-59 mo of age with MAM treated with either soy RUSF or a novel whey RUSF treatment of ~75 kcal · kg(-1) · d(-1) for up to 12 wk. RESULTS The proportion of children that recovered from MAM was significantly higher in the group that received whey RUSF (960 of 1144; 83.9%) than in the group that received soy RUSF (874 of 1086; 80.5%; P < 0.04; risk difference 3.4%, 95% CI: 0.3%, 6.6%). Children who consumed whey RUSF also demonstrated better growth markers, with a higher mean midupper arm circumference (MUAC) at the time of discharge (P < 0.009), greater MUAC gain during the course of treatment (P < 0.003), higher mean weight-for-height z score at discharge (P < 0.008), and greater weight gain (P < 0.05). No significant differences were identified in length gain or time to recovery between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION This study highlights the importance of milk protein in the treatment of MAM, because the use of a novel whey RUSF resulted in higher recovery rates and improved growth than did soy RUSF, although the whey RUSF supplement provided less total protein and energy than the soy RUSF. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01790048.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather C Stobaugh
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA; Departments of Pediatrics and
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Mark J Manary
- Departments of Pediatrics and Departments of Community Health and Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Indi Trehan
- Departments of Pediatrics and Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi; and
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Blanton LV, Charbonneau MR, Salih T, Barratt MJ, Venkatesh S, Ilkaveya O, Subramanian S, Manary MJ, Trehan I, Jorgensen JM, Fan YM, Henrissat B, Leyn SA, Rodionov DA, Osterman AL, Maleta KM, Newgard CB, Ashorn P, Dewey KG, Gordon JI. Gut bacteria that prevent growth impairments transmitted by microbiota from malnourished children. Science 2016; 351:351/6275/aad3311. [PMID: 26912898 DOI: 10.1126/science.aad3311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 482] [Impact Index Per Article: 60.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Undernourished children exhibit impaired development of their gut microbiota. Transplanting microbiota from 6- and 18-month-old healthy or undernourished Malawian donors into young germ-free mice that were fed a Malawian diet revealed that immature microbiota from undernourished infants and children transmit impaired growth phenotypes. The representation of several age-discriminatory taxa in recipient animals correlated with lean body mass gain; liver, muscle, and brain metabolism; and bone morphology. Mice were cohoused shortly after receiving microbiota from healthy or severely stunted and underweight infants; age- and growth-discriminatory taxa from the microbiota of the former were able to invade that of the latter, which prevented growth impairments in recipient animals. Adding two invasive species, Ruminococcus gnavus and Clostridium symbiosum, to the microbiota from undernourished donors also ameliorated growth and metabolic abnormalities in recipient animals. These results provide evidence that microbiota immaturity is causally related to undernutrition and reveal potential therapeutic targets and agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura V Blanton
- Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology and Center for Gut Microbiome and Nutrition Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
| | - Mark R Charbonneau
- Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology and Center for Gut Microbiome and Nutrition Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
| | - Tarek Salih
- Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology and Center for Gut Microbiome and Nutrition Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
| | - Michael J Barratt
- Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology and Center for Gut Microbiome and Nutrition Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
| | - Siddarth Venkatesh
- Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology and Center for Gut Microbiome and Nutrition Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
| | - Olga Ilkaveya
- Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Centerand Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Sathish Subramanian
- Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology and Center for Gut Microbiome and Nutrition Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
| | - Mark J Manary
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. School of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi
| | - Indi Trehan
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi
| | - Josh M Jorgensen
- Department of Nutrition and Program in International and Community Nutrition, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Yue-Mei Fan
- Department for International Health, University of Tampere School of Medicine, Tampere 33014, Finland
| | - Bernard Henrissat
- Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Aix-Marseille Université, 13288 Marseille Cedex 9, France. Department of Biological Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Semen A Leyn
- A. A. Kharkevich Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 127994, Russia
| | - Dmitry A Rodionov
- A. A. Kharkevich Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 127994, Russia. Infectious and Inflammatory Disease Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Andrei L Osterman
- Infectious and Inflammatory Disease Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Kenneth M Maleta
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi
| | - Christopher B Newgard
- Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Centerand Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology and Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Per Ashorn
- Department for International Health, University of Tampere School of Medicine, Tampere 33014, Finland. Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere 33521, Finland
| | - Kathryn G Dewey
- Department of Nutrition and Program in International and Community Nutrition, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Jeffrey I Gordon
- Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology and Center for Gut Microbiome and Nutrition Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
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Semba RD, Shardell M, Sakr Ashour FA, Moaddel R, Trehan I, Maleta KM, Ordiz MI, Kraemer K, Khadeer MA, Ferrucci L, Manary MJ. Child Stunting is Associated with Low Circulating Essential Amino Acids. EBioMedicine 2016; 6:246-252. [PMID: 27211567 PMCID: PMC4856740 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2016.02.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 181] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2016] [Revised: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 02/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Stunting affects about one-quarter of children under five worldwide. The pathogenesis of stunting is poorly understood. Nutritional interventions have had only modest effects in reducing stunting. We hypothesized that insufficiency in essential amino acids may be limiting the linear growth of children. Methods We used a targeted metabolomics approach to measure serum amino acids, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, and other metabolites using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in 313 children, aged 12–59 months, from rural Malawi. Children underwent anthropometry. Findings Sixty-two percent of the children were stunted. Children with stunting had lower serum concentrations of all nine essential amino acids (tryptophan, isoleucine, leucine, valine, methionine, threonine, histidine, phenylalanine, lysine) compared with nonstunted children (p < 0.01). In addition, stunted children had significantly lower serum concentrations of conditionally essential amino acids (arginine, glycine, glutamine), non-essential amino acids (asparagine, glutamate, serine), and six different sphingolipids compared with nonstunted children. Stunting was also associated with alterations in serum glycerophospholipid concentrations. Interpretation Our findings support the idea that children with a high risk of stunting may not be receiving an adequate dietary intake of essential amino acids and choline, an essential nutrient for the synthesis of sphingolipids and glycerophospholipids. We used metabolomics and mass spectrometry to gain insight into nutrition of stunted children. Stunted children in rural Africa had low circulating levels of essential amino acids. Children at risk of stunting may not have an adequate dietary intake of essential amino acids.
Worldwide, one-quarter of children under five years are short for their age (stunted), indicative of chronic malnutrition. Lipid-based nutrient supplements containing micronutrients have little to no effect in reducing child stunting. We examined the relationship between circulating metabolites with stunting in young children in Africa. Stunted children had lower serum levels of all nine essential amino acids compared with non-stunted children. These results challenge the widespread assumption that protein intake is adequate among young children in developing countries. The findings support the idea that children at high risk of stunting are not receiving adequate dietary intake of essential amino acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard D Semba
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Michelle Shardell
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Fayrouz A Sakr Ashour
- Department of Nutrition & Food Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Ruin Moaddel
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Indi Trehan
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Kenneth M Maleta
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - M Isabel Ordiz
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Klaus Kraemer
- Sight and Life, Basel, Switzerland; Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mohammed A Khadeer
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Luigi Ferrucci
- National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mark J Manary
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
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Thakwalakwa CM, Ashorn P, Phuka JC, Cheung YB, Briend A, Maleta KM. Impact of lipid-based nutrient supplements and corn-soy blend on energy and nutrient intake among moderately underweight 8-18-month-old children participating in a clinical trial. Matern Child Nutr 2015; 11 Suppl 4:144-50. [PMID: 24528807 PMCID: PMC6860175 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.12105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Nutrition interventions have an effect on growth, energy and nutrient intake, and development, but there are mixed reports on the effect of supplementation of energy-dense foods on dietary intake. This substudy aimed at assessing the effect of supplementation with corn-soy blend (CSB) or lipid-based nutrient supplement (LNS) on energy and nutrient intake in moderately underweight children participating in a clinical trial. A total of 188 children aged 8-18 months participated and received daily either 284 kcal from CSB or 220 kcal from LNS and no supplements (control). An interactive 24-h recall method was used to estimate energy and nutrient intakes in the groups. Total mean energy intake was 548 kcal, 551 kcal and 692 kcal in the control, CSB and LNS groups, respectively (P = 0.011). The mean (95% confidence interval) intake of energy and protein were 144 (37-250; P < 0.001) and 46 (1.5-7.6; P < 0.001) larger, respectively, in the LNS group than among the controls. No significant differences were observed between the control and CSB groups. Energy intake from non-supplement foods was significantly lower in the CSB group compared with the control group, but not in the LNS group, suggesting a lower displacement of non-supplement foods with LNS. Both CSB and LNS supplementation resulted in higher intakes of calcium, iron, zinc and vitamin C compared with controls (all P ≤ 0.001). This study indicates that LNS might be superior to CSB to supplement underweight children as it results in higher energy intake, but this requires confirmation in other settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrissie M. Thakwalakwa
- Department of International HealthUniversity of Tampere School of MedicineTampereFinland
- Department of Community HealthCollege of MedicineUniversity of MalawiBlantyreMalawi
| | - Per Ashorn
- Department of International HealthUniversity of Tampere School of MedicineTampereFinland
- Department of PaediatricsTampere University HospitalTampereFinland
| | - John C. Phuka
- Department of Community HealthCollege of MedicineUniversity of MalawiBlantyreMalawi
| | - Yin Bun Cheung
- Centre for Quantitative MedicineDuke‐NUS Graduate Medical SchoolSingapore
| | - André Briend
- Department of International HealthUniversity of Tampere School of MedicineTampereFinland
| | - Kenneth M. Maleta
- Department of Community HealthCollege of MedicineUniversity of MalawiBlantyreMalawi
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30
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Kau AL, Planer JD, Liu J, Rao S, Yatsunenko T, Trehan I, Manary MJ, Liu TC, Stappenbeck TS, Maleta KM, Ashorn P, Dewey KG, Houpt ER, Hsieh CS, Gordon JI. Functional characterization of IgA-targeted bacterial taxa from undernourished Malawian children that produce diet-dependent enteropathy. Sci Transl Med 2015; 7:276ra24. [PMID: 25717097 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaa4877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 250] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
To gain insights into the interrelationships among childhood undernutrition, the gut microbiota, and gut mucosal immune/barrier function, we purified bacterial strains targeted by immunoglobulin A (IgA) from the fecal microbiota of two cohorts of Malawian infants and children. IgA responses to several bacterial taxa, including Enterobacteriaceae, correlated with anthropometric measurements of nutritional status in longitudinal studies. The relationship between IgA responses and growth was further explained by enteropathogen burden. Gnotobiotic mouse recipients of an IgA(+) bacterial consortium purified from the gut microbiota of undernourished children exhibited a diet-dependent enteropathy characterized by rapid disruption of the small intestinal and colonic epithelial barrier, weight loss, and sepsis that could be prevented by administering two IgA-targeted bacterial species from a healthy microbiota. Dissection of a culture collection of 11 IgA-targeted strains from an undernourished donor, sufficient to transmit these phenotypes, disclosed that Enterobacteriaceae interacted with other consortium members to produce enteropathy. These findings indicate that bacterial targets of IgA responses have etiologic, diagnostic, and therapeutic implications for childhood undernutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew L Kau
- Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA. Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Joseph D Planer
- Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Sindhuja Rao
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Tanya Yatsunenko
- Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
| | - Indi Trehan
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi
| | - Mark J Manary
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. Department of Community Health, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi
| | - Ta-Chiang Liu
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Thaddeus S Stappenbeck
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Kenneth M Maleta
- Department of Community Health, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi
| | - Per Ashorn
- Department for International Health, University of Tampere School of Medicine, Tampere 33014, Finland
| | - Kathryn G Dewey
- Department of Nutrition, and Program in International and Community Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Eric R Houpt
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Chyi-Song Hsieh
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Jeffrey I Gordon
- Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA.
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Maleta KM, Kaimila Y. Impact of Interventions to Improve Prenatal Nutrition in Developing Countries on Maternal Health: Obstetric Outcomes and Fetal Health. Curr Nutr Rep 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s13668-015-0132-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Maleta KM, Phuka J, Alho L, Cheung YB, Dewey KG, Ashorn U, Phiri N, Phiri TE, Vosti SA, Zeilani M, Kumwenda C, Bendabenda J, Pulakka A, Ashorn P. Provision of 10-40 g/d Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements from 6 to 18 Months of Age Does Not Prevent Linear Growth Faltering in Malawi. J Nutr 2015; 145:1909-15. [PMID: 26063066 DOI: 10.3945/jn.114.208181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2014] [Accepted: 05/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Complementing infant diets with lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNSs) has been suggested to improve growth and reduce morbidity, but the daily quantity and the milk content of LNSs affect their cost. OBJECTIVE We tested the hypotheses that the change in mean length-for-age z score (LAZ) for infants provided with 10-40 g LNSs/d from ages 6 to 18 mo would be greater than that for infants receiving no dietary intervention at the same age and that provision of LNSs that did not contain milk would be as good as milk-containing LNSs in promoting linear growth. METHODS We enrolled in a randomized single-blind trial 6-mo-old infants who were allocated to 1 of 6 groups to receive 10, 20, or 40 g LNSs/d containing milk powder; 20 or 40 g milk-free LNSs/d; or no supplement until 18 mo of age. The primary outcome was change in LAZ. RESULTS Of the 1932 enrolled infants, 78 (4.0%) died and 319 (16.5%) dropped out during the trial. The overall reported supplement consumption was 71.6% of days, with no difference between the groups (P = 0.26). The overall mean ± SD length and LAZ changes were 13.0 ± 2.1 cm and -0.45 ± 0.77 z score units, respectively, which did not differ between the groups (P = 0.66 for length and P = 0.74 for LAZ). The difference in mean LAZ change in the no-milk LNS group compared with the milk LNS group was -0.02 (95% CI: -0.10, 0.06; P = 0.72). CONCLUSION Our results do not support the hypothesis that LNS supplementation during infancy and childhood promotes length gain or prevents stunting between 6 and 18 mo of age in Malawi. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00945698.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth M Maleta
- Department of Community Health, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi;
| | - John Phuka
- Department of Community Health, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Lotta Alho
- Department of International Health, University of Tampere School of Medicine, Tampere, Finland
| | - Yin Bun Cheung
- Department of International Health, University of Tampere School of Medicine, Tampere, Finland; Center for Quantitative Medicine, Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School, Singapore
| | | | - Ulla Ashorn
- Department of International Health, University of Tampere School of Medicine, Tampere, Finland
| | - Nozgechi Phiri
- Department of Community Health, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Thokozani E Phiri
- Department of Community Health, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Stephen A Vosti
- Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
| | - Mamane Zeilani
- Nutriset S.A.S., Hameau du Bois Ricard, Malaunay, France; and
| | - Chiza Kumwenda
- Department of Community Health, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Jaden Bendabenda
- Department of Community Health, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Anna Pulakka
- Department of International Health, University of Tampere School of Medicine, Tampere, Finland
| | - Per Ashorn
- Department of International Health, University of Tampere School of Medicine, Tampere, Finland; Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
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Wang RJ, Trehan I, LaGrone LN, Weisz AJ, Thakwalakwa CM, Maleta KM, Manary MJ. Investigation of food acceptability and feeding practices for lipid nutrient supplements and blended flours used to treat moderate malnutrition. J Nutr Educ Behav 2013; 45:258-263. [PMID: 23246175 PMCID: PMC3644177 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2012.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2011] [Revised: 07/31/2012] [Accepted: 08/10/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine acceptability and feeding practices associated with different supplementary food items and identify practices associated with weight gain. METHODS Caregivers (n = 409) whose children had been enrolled in a trial comparing a fortified corn-soy blended flour (CSB++), soy ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF), and soy/whey RUSF answered a questionnaire administered by health workers in their homes. RESULTS No significant differences in acceptability of food types were found. CSB++ was more likely than soy RUSF or soy/whey RUSF to be shared (21% vs 3% vs 8%, respectively, P < .001). Children who received soy/whey RUSF were more likely to feed themselves than children who received soy RUSF or CSB++ (11% vs 4% vs 3%, respectively, P < .05). Refusing food was associated with slower weight gain. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Despite similar acceptability, feeding practices differed among food types. Increased nonstaple food consumption is associated with weight gain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J. Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, St. Louis, MO
| | - Indi Trehan
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, St. Louis, MO
| | - Lacey N. LaGrone
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, St. Louis, MO
| | - Ariana J. Weisz
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, St. Louis, MO
| | - Chrissie M. Thakwalakwa
- Department of Community Health, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre 3, Malawi
| | - Kenneth M. Maleta
- Department of Community Health, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre 3, Malawi
| | - Mark J. Manary
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, St. Louis, MO
- Department of Community Health, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre 3, Malawi
- Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe acute malnutrition contributes to 1 million deaths among children annually. Adding routine antibiotic agents to nutritional therapy may increase recovery rates and decrease mortality among children with severe acute malnutrition treated in the community. METHODS In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we randomly assigned Malawian children, 6 to 59 months of age, with severe acute malnutrition to receive amoxicillin, cefdinir, or placebo for 7 days in addition to ready-to-use therapeutic food for the outpatient treatment of uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition. The primary outcomes were the rate of nutritional recovery and the mortality rate. RESULTS A total of 2767 children with severe acute malnutrition were enrolled. In the amoxicillin, cefdinir, and placebo groups, 88.7%, 90.9%, and 85.1% of the children recovered, respectively (relative risk of treatment failure with placebo vs. amoxicillin, 1.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04 to 1.68; relative risk with placebo vs. cefdinir, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.27 to 2.11). The mortality rates for the three groups were 4.8%, 4.1%, and 7.4%, respectively (relative risk of death with placebo vs. amoxicillin, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.07 to 2.24; relative risk with placebo vs. cefdinir, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.22 to 2.64). Among children who recovered, the rate of weight gain was increased among those who received antibiotics. No interaction between type of severe acute malnutrition and intervention group was observed for either the rate of nutritional recovery or the mortality rate. CONCLUSIONS The addition of antibiotics to therapeutic regimens for uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition was associated with a significant improvement in recovery and mortality rates. (Funded by the Hickey Family Foundation and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01000298.).
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Affiliation(s)
- Indi Trehan
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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Thakwalakwa CM, Ashorn P, Jawati M, Phuka JC, Cheung YB, Maleta KM. An effectiveness trial showed lipid-based nutrient supplementation but not corn-soya blend offered a modest benefit in weight gain among 6- to 18-month-old underweight children in rural Malawi. Public Health Nutr 2012; 15:1755-62. [PMID: 22691922 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980012003023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine if supplementation with corn-soya blend (CSB) or lipid-based nutrient supplement (LNS) improved the weight gain of moderately underweight infants and children when provided through the national health service. DESIGN A randomised, controlled, assessor-blinded clinical trial. Infants and children were randomised to receive for 12 weeks an average daily ration of 71 g CSB or 43 g LNS, providing 1188 kJ and 920 kJ, respectively, or no supplement (control). Main outcome was weight gain. Secondary outcomes included changes in anthropometric indices and incidence of serious adverse events. Intention-to-treat analyses were used. SETTING Kukalanga, Koche, Katema and Jalasi health centres in Mangochi District, rural Malawi. SUBJECTS Underweight (weight-for-age Z-score <-2) infants and children aged 6-15 months (n 299). RESULTS Mean weight gain was 630 g, 680 g and 750 g in control, CSB and LNS groups, respectively (P = 0·21). When adjusted for baseline age, children receiving LNS gained on average 90 g more weight (P = 0·185) and their weight-for-length Z-score increased 0·22 more (P = 0·049) compared with those receiving no supplementation. No statistically significant differences were observed between the CSB and control groups in mean weight and length gain. CONCLUSIONS LNS supplementation provided during the lean season via through the national health service was associated with a modest increase in weight. However, the effect size was lower than that previously reported under more controlled research settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrissie M Thakwalakwa
- Department of Community Health, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Private Bag 360, Chichiri Blantyre 3, Malawi
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Thakwalakwa CM, Kuusipalo HM, Maleta KM, Phuka JC, Ashorn P, Cheung YB. The validity of a structured interactive 24-hour recall in estimating energy and nutrient intakes in 15-month-old rural Malawian children. Matern Child Nutr 2011; 8:380-9. [PMID: 21323866 DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-8709.2010.00283.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to compare the nutritional intake values among 15-month-old rural Malawian children obtained by weighed food record (WFR) with those obtained by modified 24-hour recall (mod 24-HR), and to develop algorithm for adjusting mod 24-HR values so as to predict mean intake based on WFRs. The study participants were 169 15-month-old children who participated in a clinical trial. Food consumption on one day was observed and weighed (established criterion) by a research assistant to provide the estimates of energy and nutrient intakes. On the following day, another research assistant, blinded to the direct observation, conducted the structured interactive 24-hour recall (24-HR) interview (test method). Paired t-tests and scatter-plots were used to compare intake values of the two methods. The structured interactive 24-HR method tended to overestimate energy and nutrient intakes (each P < 0.001). The regression-through-the-origin method was used to develop adjustment algorithms. Results showed that multiplying the mean energy, protein, fat, iron, zinc and vitamin A intake estimates based on the test method by 0.86, 0.80, 0.68, 0.69, 0.72 and 0.76, respectively, provides an approximation of the mean values based on WFRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrissie M Thakwalakwa
- Department of Community Health, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
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