Effect of probiotic supplementation on cognitive function in children and adolescents: a systematic review of randomised trials

Available reviews have shown potential effects of probiotics on neurobehavioral outcomes through ‘gut-brain axis’ mechanism in adults. However, reviews on cognitive function in children and adolescents are lacking. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of the effect of probiotic supplementation on cognitive function in children and adolescents. A search of four databases (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycARTICLES, Scopus, PubMed) was conducted to identify RCTs published from January 1990 to December 2018. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria and their cognitive outcomes were analysed. Only one study found a positive result with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) 1×1010 cfu supplementation with outcomes on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or Asperger syndrome (AS) manifestations as diagnosed using the International Classification of Diseases-10 criteria. The supplementations were administered to Finnish mothers for 4 weeks before delivery and continuously given for 6 months after delivery if they breastfed, or to the children. ADHD or AS was diagnosed at the age of 13 years in 17.1% children in the placebo and none in the probiotic group (P=0.008). This study found significant differences in species composition and number of cells belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium between healthy children and children who later developed ADHD or AS at different time points. Six remaining studies with varying strains, durations of intervention, start-time of administration, and outcomes demonstrated no difference in cognition after probiotic supplementation. Metagenomic analyses on gut microbiota composition were not performed in any of these studies. In conclusion, the favourable effect of probiotic supplementation on cognitive function in children and adolescents was observed in one study with LGG supplementation by a risk reduction of developing ADHD or AS (i.e. autism). More long-term and follow-up trials using probiotics identifying the effect on cognition are warranted before routine use.

Nutrient intakes of pregnant and lactating women in Indonesia and Malaysia: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction

Optimizing dietary intake during pregnancy and lactation is crucial to the growth and development of children and their lifelong health. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to describe the nutrient intakes of pregnant and lactating women in Indonesia and Malaysia, countries that are experiencing rapid nutrition transition in Southeast Asia.

Methods

We screened 2,258 studies published between January 1980 and March 2021. The nutrient intakes of pregnant and lactating women were quantitatively analyzed to calculate the percentage of adequacy using national recommended daily allowances or nutrient intakes (RDA/RNI) and estimated average requirements (EAR) for micronutrients. Standardized mean differences (SMD) between dietary intake and RDA/RNI were determined for selected nutrients.

Results

Fifty-three studies were included and showed that energy and macronutrient intakes among pregnant and lactating women in both countries were below the RDA/RNI. In addition, most studies reported that women failed to meet the EAR for vitamin D (<70% EAR), vitamin E (<50% EAR), and water-soluble vitamins (<80% EAR) except for vitamin C and A among Malaysians. Moreover, calcium, potassium, and iron intakes of pregnant women were <60% EAR in Indonesia and <80% EAR in Malaysia. Phosphorus intake among pregnant women in both countries and sodium intake among Malaysian pregnant women exceeded 100% EAR. Indonesian lactating women had <60% EAR for calcium and potassium intakes, while Malaysian women had more than 100% EAR. For 21 studies reporting overall protein intakes, the standard mean difference (SMD) was −2.26 (95% CI; −2.98, −1.54) below the RDA/RNI for pregnant women and −0.67 SMD (95% CI −15.7, −11.5) for lactating women. When the four studies from Malaysia were analyzed separately, protein intakes of pregnant women were above the RNI. Moreover, low intakes of vitamin D, vitamin C, calcium, and iron, but sufficient intakes in vitamin A, zinc, and phosphorus were observed in pregnant women in both countries.

Conclusion

Dietary intakes of energy, macronutrients, and micronutrients (vitamin D, vitamin E, water-soluble vitamins, calcium, and iron) of pregnant and lactating women in Indonesia and Malaysia were below the recommendations. Important heterogeneities were observed even between these two countries for specific essential nutrient intakes. Innovative research and targeted programs to address specific deficiencies should be prioritized.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021252204, identifier: CRD42021252204.

Tenth year reenrollment randomized trial investigating the effects of childhood probiotics and calcium supplementation on height and weight at adolescence

Microbiota and its modification with specific probiotics in early life could provide long term health benefits. Probiotics and calcium strengthen intestinal integrity and may support linear growth. This study investigated the long-term effects of childhood probiotics and calcium supplementation on growth in adolescence. We re-enrolled 238 adolescents aged 11-18 years from 494 children 10-years after 6-months of supplementation with either low-lactose milk fortified with low levels of calcium (LC, ∼50 mg/day, n = 53/124), with regular levels of calcium (RC, ∼440 mg/day, n = 70/126), or with regular calcium + 5 x 108 CFU/day Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 (Reuteri, n = 55/124), or regular calcium + 5 x 108 CFU/day L. casei CRL 431 (Casei, n = 60/120). Changes in height-for-age z-score (HAZ) and body mass index-for-age z-score (BMIZ) were determined from the end of intervention to re-enrollment. General linear models were used to assess the effects on HAZ and BMIZ of group, gender, living area, maternal education, family income, physical activity, diet quality, nutritional status, and gut integrity as determined by urinary lactulose/mannitol ratio (L:M). Adolescent mean age was 15.3 years, mean HAZ was - 1.11, mean BMIZ was - 0.2 and median L:M (n = 155) was 0.23. Changes in HAZ and BMIZ were not significantly different between Casei, Reuteri, LC compared to RC. However, a significant decrease in BMIZ was observed among female adolescents in the Casei compared to RC group (- 0.5 SD, 95% CI - 0.8 to - 0.003, p = 0.048). Childhood probiotic and calcium supplementation may therefore selectively affect female adolescents.Clinical trial registration: This follow-up study has been registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov , Registry name: Rina Agustina, Registration number: NCT04046289, First Registration Date 06/08/19. web link: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04046289 .

Associations between diet quality, blood pressure, and glucose levels among pregnant women in the Asian megacity of Jakarta

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of gestational hypertension and diabetes in pregnancy is increasing worldwide. Diet is a modifiable factor that may influence these conditions, but few studies have examined the association between diet quality and blood pressure and glucose profiles among pregnant women. Data are especially scarce for women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where 90% of global pregnancies occur, and in urban settings. We, therefore, assessed these associations among 174 pregnant women in the Asian megacity of Jakarta in a cross-sectional study of the Brain Probiotic and LC-PUFA Intervention for Optimum Early Life (BRAVE) project.

METHODS

Trained field-enumerators collected socio-demographic characteristics, measured Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC), and assessed diet by two 24-hour recalls, which were used to calculate the Alternate Healthy Eating Index for Pregnancy (AHEI-P). Blood pressure was measured by automated sphygmomanometer, and fasting blood glucose by capillary glucometer. General linear models were used to identify associations.

RESULTS

The median AHEI-P score was 47.4 (IQR 19.1-76.6). The middle tertile of the AHEI-P score (39.59-56.58) was associated with a 0.4 SD (standardized effect size, 95% CI -0.7 to -0.06; p = 0.02) lower diastolic blood pressure compared with the lowest tertile (<39.59), after adjustment for level of education, smoking status, MUAC, gestational age, history of hypertension, and family history of hypertension. However, no associations were found between the AHEI-P score and systolic blood pressure and blood glucose.

CONCLUSION

Higher diet quality was associated with lower diastolic blood pressure among pregnant women in an urban LMIC community, but not with systolic blood pressure and blood glucose. A behavioral change intervention trial would be warranted to confirm the influence of diet quality on blood pressure and glucose levels and among pregnant women, and even before pregnancy.

Integration of symptomatic, demographical and diet-related comorbidities data with SARS-CoV-2 antibody rapid diagnostic tests during epidemiological surveillance: a cross-sectional study in Jakarta, Indonesia

OBJECTIVES

Affordable options for COVID-19 epidemiological surveillance are needed. Virus detection by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) is sensitive but costly, and antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are cheap but with reduced sensitivity; both detect current infection but not exposure. RDT-IgM/IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 detect exposure but have poor sensitivity for current infection. We investigated if the integration of symptomatic, demographical and diet-related comorbidities data with antibody RDTs improves their potential to assess infection rates in addition to exposure, thereby broadening their utility for surveillance.

DESIGN

We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from community surveillance for SARS-CoV-2. Health workers collected nasopharyngeal swabs for RT-PCR and RDT antigen assessments and venous blood for RDT-IgM/IgG from symptomatic and asymptomatic persons. Data on age, gender, contact history, symptoms (ie, fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, headache, dyspnoea and diarrhoea), diet-related comorbidities (ie, diabetes and hypertension) and chest radiology were collected.

SETTING

High-risk communities in Jakarta, Indonesia, in May 2020.

PARTICIPANTS

343 community members' data were included.

OUTCOME MEASURES

RDT-IgM/IgG sensitivity, specificity and predictive values and area under receiver operating characteristic curve for RT-PCR positivity using RDT results alone and in combination with other predictors, including symptom components derived from principal component analysis.

RESULTS

There were 24 PCR-confirmed infections. RDT-IgM/IgG-positive tests were associated with infection (OR 10.8, 95% CI 4.43 to 26.4, p<0.001) with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.708% and 50% sensitivity, 91.5% specificity, 30.8% positive predictive value (PPV) and 96.1% negative predictive value (NPV). RDT results combined with age, gender, contact history, symptoms and comorbidities increased the AUC to 0.787 and yielded 62.5% sensitivity, 87.0% specificity, 26.6% PPV and 96.9% NPV.

CONCLUSIONS

SARS-CoV-2 RDT-IgM/IgG results integrated with other predictors may be an affordable tool for epidemiological surveillance for population-based COVID-19 exposure and current infection, especially in groups with outbreaks or high transmission.

The impact of government pandemic policies on the vulnerability of healthcare workers to SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality in Jakarta Province, Indonesia

INTRODUCTION

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, putting them at a higher risk of infection and disease than non-HCWs. We analysed the effects of government policies for the public and for HCWs on the likelihood of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and mortality among HCWs during the first 8 months of the pandemic in Jakarta province, the capital city and COVID-19 hotspot in Indonesia.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using secondary data from the Jakarta provincial government from March to October 2020, which included sociodemographic characteristics, symptoms, comorbidities and COVID-19 diagnosis history for all cases. A generalized linear mixed-effect regression model was used to determine the effect of each month on the odds ratio (OR) of COVID-19 cases and deaths for HCW compared with non-HCW, assuming that monthly trends were influenced by varying government policies.

RESULTS

A total of 894,487 suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases in health facilities in Jakarta province were analysed. The OR of confirmed cases for HCW was 2.04 (95% CI 2.00-2.08; p < .001) compared to non-HCW. Despite this higher OR for infection, the case fatality rate (2.32 per 100) and OR (1.02, 95% CI 0.93-1.11; p = .65) of COVID-19 deaths for HCW were similar to those of non-HCW. We observed a trend towards a lower number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals and lower odds of COVID-19 cases among HCWs during the April-to-July 2020 phase compared to the August-to-October phase. This chronologically aligned with more extensive policies to support hospital-based, community-based and well-being-related actions to protect HCW.

CONCLUSIONS

HCW had higher odds of having SARS-CoV-2 infection, yet similar odds of death from COVID-19, as compared to non-HCW. Government policies with collective efforts to prevent hospital overcapacity during high transmission and burden periods of the pandemic should be prioritized.

Relationships of Child-, Parents-, and Environment-Associated Determinants with Diet Quality, Physical Activity, and Smoking Habits among Indonesian Urban Adolescents

BACKGROUND

The trend of unhealthy lifestyles is increasing among adolescents and has been associated with the rising burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). However, specific determinants of unhealthy lifestyles among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries remain limited.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationships of child-, parents-, and environment-associated determinants with diet quality, physical activity, and smoking habits among low-socioeconomic urban adolescents.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study involving 238 adolescents aged 11 to 17 years was conducted in Jakarta, Indonesia. Adolescents and their parents were interviewed to assess the determinants of healthy lifestyles that included diet quality, physical activity, and smoking habits. Diet and physical activity were quantified using the Diet Quality Index for Adolescents (DQI-A) and Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C), respectively. Multiple regression was used to determine the β coefficients and odds ratios predictive of healthy lifestyles.

RESULTS

Mean scores of DQI-A and PAQ-C were considered low (33.5% ± 8.9% and 2.1 ± 0.5, respectively). Overall, 17.6% of adolescents were smokers, with 88% of these being males. Predictors of diet quality were child- (age, gender) and environment-associated (house size, access to a computer) determinants with β coefficients of -6.52 to 3.26. The PAQ-C score was associated with child- (female) and environment-associated (living area) determinants with β coefficients of -0.45 and 0.14, respectively. Younger adolescents and females were protective factors for smoking. Parents-associated determinants were not associated with any lifestyle indicators.

CONCLUSIONS

Child- and environment-associated determinants were predictors of healthy lifestyles among adolescents. Thus, personal empowerment and environment transformation are needed to facilitate a healthy lifestyle and reduce the burden of NCDs among adolescents.

Association of Prepregnancy Body Mass Index with Gut Microbiota Diversity and Abundance in Pregnant Women

BACKGROUND

Understanding the link between prepregnancy nutritional status and gut microbiota during pregnancy may lead to novel maternal and child health interventions. We explored the association of prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) status with gut microbiota diversity and abundance during pregnancy.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 90 pregnant women from primary health centers in Jakarta, Indonesia. Trained staff interviewed women on sociodemographic characteristics and nutrient intake, gathered data on prepregnancy BMI from antenatal records, and obtained fecal samples. Samples were analyzed for microbiota diversity indices [Shannon, Faith phylogenetic diversity (Faith PD), and Chao1] and abundance using 16S ribosome ribonucleic acid sequencing. Multivariate logistic regression was performed although adjusting for carbohydrate and protein intake, ethnicity, and education to determine the relationship between prepregnancy BMI and the alpha diversity index and the presence of the phylum Firmicutes and genera Prevotella and Blautia.

RESULTS

Pregnant women who were overweight or obese (BMI ≥23.0 kg/m2) before pregnancy had significantly lower odds of having gut microbiota diversity above the median of Shannon index [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.4, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.1, 0.9, P = 0.042], Faith PD (aOR: 0.2, 95% CI: 0.1, 0.8, P = 0.015), and Chao1 (aOR: 0.3, 95% CI: 0.1, 0.7, P = 0.006) compared with those who were neither overweight nor obese. Prepregnant women with overweight or obesity also had significantly lower odds of having levels above the median of the phylum Firmicutes (aOR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.98, P = 0.045) and genus Blautia (aOR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.85, P = 0.022) compared with women without overweight and obesity.

CONCLUSIONS

Prepregnancy overweight or obese status was associated with lower gut microbiota diversity and lower abundance of Firmicutes and Blautia among pregnant women in an urban community. These findings suggest that prepregnancy interventions to control BMI may improve gut flora and potentially benefit pregnant women.